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RELIABLE PoVLTRY JOVRNAL 

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THE LEGHORNS 



BROWN, WHITE, BLACK, 
BUFF AND DUCKWING. 



An Illustrated Leghorn Standard, with a Treatise on Judging 

Leghorns f and Complete Instructions on Breeding, 

Mating and Exhibiting. 



CONTRIBUTED TO BY AMERICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL AND BEST KNOWN 
JUDGES, BREEDERS AND EXHIBITORS. 



publishkd by 
Reliable Poultry Journal Publishing Company. 
^ Qi^iNCY, Illinois. 



ItlSRAHYof CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

DEC 30 1304 

Copyriiiiit Entry 
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COPYRIGHT BY 

RiiLMfiLE Poultry Journal Puulishinc, Company. 
QuinCv. Illinois. 




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THE LEGHORNS— INTRODUCTORY. 



A Favorite Family Fowl, That Is Fqually at Home on the Farm and In the Show Room—A Glance at Their Present 

Standing, With a Few Remarks on Type and Color— The Standard Down-to-Date— 

Browns, Whites, BlaciiS, Buffs, Ducitwings. 



LEGHORNS, figuratively speaking, cover ttie earth. 
Take the world over, and Leghorns, perhaps, are 
better known than any other existing breed. Games 
may be more widely known, but further than the 
knowledge that a Game Is a Game (and in most minds a 
Pit Game at that), (he average man or woman knows little 
of its characteristics, inquiry into these points being left 
to the fancier. On the other hand, go into the smallest 
village of Europe or America and the Leghorn will be 
found crowing as cheerily, strutting as proudly, and flying 
the fence as aggravatingly as here in the center of chicken- 
dom. and every man, woman and child will tell you these 
are some of its characteristics and will add with the great- 
est assurance — "it is the best layer on earth." 

There is no doubt that continual selection of this breed 
for egg production has been the means of placing it at the 
front in that respect. As a general thing the average citi- 
zen, speaking of a layer, has in mind the Leghorn, and 
knows no other; yet the type of Leghorns differs in each 
country. If an English bird were placed beside an Ameri- 
can production, there would be seen few points of similarity 
except, perhaps, in color, and this dissimilarity in types of 
Leghorns is one of the points we are aiming at in this 
article. 

LEGHORN STANDARD— PAST ANO PRESENT. 

If there is one thing more effective than another in kill- 
ing the popularity of a breed it is the dissension caused by 
the varied opinions of judges upon points which are not 
made clear in the Standard of Perfection. In this particular, 
Leghorn breeders may congratulate themselves, for, by the 
efforts of prominent breeders, additions have been made to 
the Leghorn Standard such as will dissipate many of the 
foggy elements it contained. 

Five years ago James Forsyth, speaking of his favorites, 
the Brown Leghorns, and of the "weak-kneed Standard," 
said, "We haVe too few definite requirements in our stand- 
ard of Brown Leghorns. The rest is open to the opinions of 
various poultry judges, which vary materially. For instance, 
the standard calls for the hackle in the male to be a brilliant 
or orange red, no preference being given. Which is to receive 
the cut? That is left to the opinion of the judge. Same in 
saddle. Wing primaries black, lower web MAY be edged 
with brown. Is there any objection to stating whether it 
shall or not? Yes, the judges will fix that all right." 
* * * "Comb evenly serrated; nothing said about number 
of serrations," * * * "and so it goes on, leaving as much 
leeway as possible to the opinion and notion of the judge." 

Such criticisms as these do much good if they are backed 
by action, and judging by the improvement of the present 
standard those few digs turned up some rich soil. The 
word "orange" has been struck out of the hackle section of 
males, leaving it "rich, brilliant red," thereby giving the 
preference Mr. Forsyth desired; similarly in regard to the 
saddle. The lower web of the wing primaries MUST now 
be edged with brown in accordance wih that gentleman's 
wish, and the serrations in the comb, of which he spoke, 
have been fixed at five. Good kicking, indeed. 



Judge Shellabarger four years ago said he was at a loss 
to know how many points were allotted to color and how 
many to shape of earlobes, the total value of both being 
placed at six points, so he had to do the best he could under 
the circumstances. It is likely the value he placed upon 
color and shape would not correspond with that of another 
judge, which fact caused him to add that he was not satis- 
fied with the standard description, and that "breeders and 
judges are equally at sea when it comes to saying what the 
shape should be where no description is given in the stand- 
ard as to form, size, etc." 

These are points yet to be settled, as Mr. Shellabarger's 
suggestions have not been carried out. There are many 
other additions he suggested, such as alloting a stated value 
to shape and to color of legs and toes, which now are 
lumped at seven points, but these things are yet to be ac- 
complished. 

At the annual meeting of the American Poultry Associa- 
tion, held at Toronto, Canada, in 1899, some important 
changes were made in the Leghorn standard. As the re- 
vised standard of 1898 reads, "White in the face of cockerels 
or pullets" in Brown Leghorns is a disqualification. At To- 
roato this disqualification was extended to include all varie- 
ties of Leghorns except Buffs. In the disqualification for 
"White or Gray" in the plumage of Brown Leghorns a 
change was made by striking out the words "or Gray," so 
that Gray in plumage does not now disqualify. The color 
of the back of the Brown Leghorn female was made to read 
"light browu, penciled with a darker brown," this change 
being simply the addition of the word "light." The tail 
coverts of the female were similarly described. 

As we have remarked, Leghorn breeders are to be con- 
gratulated upon the improvement they have obtained in the 
standard. 

THE LEGHORN TYPE IS SECURE. 

Breeders and exhibitors have not yet that confidence 
which assures them that so long as they follow the instruc- 
tions of the standard they are safe to exhibit under any and 
every judge. The ideals of individual judges is what is 
causing the trouble, and even at this late date the exhibitor 
wavor.s at the thought that his bird may be deemed un- 
worthy of a place, because it is not the judge's ideal. When 
we consider the many changes the standard has undergone, 
the many controversies we have read in the poultry press, 
the opinions of judges, which, as exemplified in their awards, 
seem to be contradictory, is it any wonder the fancier and 
exhibitor tremble for his well-considered opinion. Still we 
have become impressed that leaving out the many little side 
issues which affect judges' work, there is a wonderful unan- 
imity among breeders, exhibitors, and judges, as to what the 
ideal type of Leghorn shall be and is. We have good reason 
for this impression. We thoroughly understand the feelings 
of a fancier who has endeavored to mold his ideal upon that 
of acknowledged leaders in the fancy, and who has strenu- 
ously guarded against the slightest departure from the stan- 
dard type of Leghorns, and we think we can increase his 
confidence, and ease the minds of exhibitors generally, by 



6 



THE LEGHORNS. 



drawing their attention to the fact that upon this continent 
at least the type is really fixed, and that there is no ground 
for fear upon this main question. 

The Reliable Poultry Journal, aiming to secure unbiased 
opinions upon the shape of Leghorns, obtained from Frank- 
lane L. Sewell, drawings of a Leghorn male and female, 
which embodied the best shape sections possessed by several 
live models. These drawings were submitted for criticism 
to prominent breeders and judges, and their criticisms form 
some of the most valuable material in this book. The opia- 
ions are given by men who control the destiny of the fancy 
Leghorn busings and are therefore authoritative. They are 
not the opinions of a few unknown breeders, but of men 
who have won at New York, Boston, and the other big shows 
of the country. Sixty-eight first-class breeders, exhibitors 
and judges passed judgment upon the shape of the male, and 
fifty-five upon the female outline. With w^hat result? The 
following: 

THE AMERICAN LEGHORN. 

It is clearly proven that notwithstanding prizes are 
awarded in the show room upon totally different types of the 
same breed — notwithstanding that varying types of birds in 
many a breeder's yard have been said to possess the ideal 
type of the breed, and notwithstanding the fact that these 
supposed-to-be impressions have caused doubts as to the 
real type — just so soon as there are no side issues, but open 
unprejudiced popular opinion, the type of Leghorn is so 
clearly and so indelibly defined that the horizon of our Leg- 
horn Kingdom is immediately freed from every vestige of 
cloud, leaving only the proverbial silver lining. ' 

Mr. Sewell's drawing was made for criticism, and re- 
ceived it. The loss of anything so familiar as the sprightly 
American type of Leghorn could not be countenanced, and a 
large number of the critics complained of the blocky style of 
bird that had l)een portrayed in the male. "Too Minorca-like 
in comb and tail," was the general opinion, clearly ex- 
pressed. Forty-five fanciers said the comb was too large in 
front, or on the whole, and not one dissentient word was 
written. Think of that — 45 to in favor of a Leghorn comb 
on a Leghorn, as distinguished from a beefy follow-the-neck 
comb of the Minorca. "Wattles too long," said twenty-two 
breeders, and no one disputed them; "the earlobes also 
large," said a majority. Sixteen exhibitors said the neck 
was either arched too much or was too full, too heavy, and 
there was no one to object. The sloping Minorca-like back, 
with insufficient saddle filling caused objections by fifteen 
writers, and the low tail was weighted down by the testi- 
mony of twenty-three, who wished it to be carried upright, 
as the standard provides; while twenty-seven wished the 
legs were longer, and less stout. Among the whole sixty- 
eight there were only six who did not feel disposed to criti- 
cise the shape of the VwA, and we suspect they refrained 
from doing so only because of the high opinion they have 
of the artist's work. 

With regard to the female's outline, a similar feeling 
existed, the general impression being that the back and the 
tail were too long, the latter not being sufficiently spread. 
It would serve no purpose to particularize as we have done 
In the case of the male. One instance is sufficient as the 
criticisms of the female's shape is published in this book. 

In the face of such testimony we have no doubt as to the 
future of the Leghorn type or shape in America; unity of 
opinion exists, and even though the surface may at times 
appear ruffled and obstinate, the undercurrent Is strongly 
set in the one direction. 

SINGLE AND ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS. 

We believe the Single Comb Brown Leghorn holds the 
American type better than any other variety. It is still a 



little short on the leg, and at times a blocky bird is exhib- 
ited, but take the average shows and the Brown Leghorn is 
easily in front of all breeds in its uniformity of type. It is 
to be hoped that in the endeavor to get them up in size, 
which is now prevalent, the sprightly form will not be lost 
sight of — but in the face of the testimony above mentioned 
we have no fear. 

In color. Brown Leghorns cannot boast a similar uni- 
formity. Males of various shades of hackle color are fre- 
quently found in the show room, in addition to which many 
of them have the lower portion of the neck feathers several 
shades lighter than the upper. The saddle feathers in such 
cases are usually off-color, too. Well striped saddles are 
few, although for years they have been the goal of breeders 
of the Browns. 

In females the greatest contrast is in the back color. 
The darker birds are more numerous, probably having been 
bred from cockerel matings. It takes a good judge of color 
to go through the female class in the Brown Leghorn alley 
and to select the correct shade. It seems just as difficult to 
find a well striped hackle on the female as it is to get a good 
saddle on the male. The stripe of the male saddle when it 
does appear is u.^ually free from penciling, while the fe- 
male's hackle stripe is nearly always penciled more or less 
with orange. We have seen a few birds without the defects 
mentioned, but the Leghorn world yet offers a remunerative 
industry to those who can breed them. 

The Rose Comb Brown is still behind the Single Comb 
bird in size, and can well afford to be enlarged even if the 
increase in size does add a little extra bone to the leg. In 
breeding for color the difficulties to be met are similar to 
those encountered jn the Single Comb Browns. 

SINGLE AND ROSE COMB WHITE LEGHORNS. 

The Single Comb White Leghorn, so far as the male 
goes, follows pretty much the Leghorn type and little objec- 
tion can be raised to it on that score, but when we come to 
the female we find in a large number of cases the tail is less 
spread than in her brown sister. This gives it the appear- 
ance of extra length. It would be much improved by being 
spread, as is the brown; this would also help the shape of 
the back. The sprightliness of the Leghorn is there all right 
and the tail will come. 

Everybody knows the difficulty of securing a yellow leg 
on a white bird, but we believe the White Leghorn is not 
far behind the Brown in color of leg, although in either vari- 
ety the acquisition of a bright yellow leg is by no means 
child's play. Such legs are not prevalent, except in the 
creamy colored whites, where they approach perfection. 

The Rose Comb White in shape and size compares with 
the Single Comb, as does the Rose Comb Brown with the 
Single Comb Brown. In color the Single and Rose Comb 
birds have the same obstacles to overcome. 

BLACK LEGHORNS. 

The Black Leghorn is coming to the front slowly but 
surely, and its recent advance can be traced to the wisdom 
of fanciers who have determined that it shall be a Leghorn 
and not a Minorca. 

Fanciers as a body object to establishing two breeds so 
much alike as to be barely distinguishable. The elimination 
of White Javas from the standard is a good instance of the 
strength of this feeling. The Black Leghorns were likely to 
have received their deathblow upon parallel grounds, and 
fanciers of that variety have had their work cut out avoiding 
this obstacle to the realization of their hopes. It was a dan- 
ger they all saw — the similarity of the Black Leghorn and 
the Black Minorca, and the wiser among them determined to 
steer clear of it; they are surely directing their bark away 
from the troubled waters, but not without opposition from 



THE LEGHORNS. 



those who do not see the danger. There are some who have 
found it difficult to produce an ideal Black Leghorn. They 
would like to have a Black Leghorn with black legs, because 
they find it difficult to breed yellow legs without also obtain- 
ing white in the flights and sickles. As sure as the Black 
Leghorn is bred so like the Minorca in legs, so sure is its 
death in the fanciers' world accomplished. It is difficult 
enough at all times to avoid the Minorca comb and it is none 
the less difficult to secure the Leghorn type of body. The 
distinguishing line can be most clearly drawn by producing 
the yellow legs. We have seen Black Leghorns exhibited 
during the past two years that have been Leghorns in shape, 
Leghorns in comb and Leghorns in legs, and a cockerel pos- 
sessing these three characteristics was one of the most at- 
tractive birds it has been our pleasure to see. 

The Reverend T. W. Sturges, B. A., writes in the Feath- 
ered World that "Until quite recently they were not exten- 
sively bred in England and were rarely seen at exhibitions of 
poultry. They have been the last of the many varieties of 
the Leghorn to have separate classes assigned to them at the 
Dairy and Palace Shows. At the Dairy in 1894 the A. O. V. 
class to which they were assigned had to be cancelled, as 
only eight entries were made in two classes. In' 1895 there 
were twenty entries in the A. O. V. Leghorn class, of which 
I believe seventeen were Black. For the last two years only 
have separate classes been formed, with the gratifying re- 
sult that twenty-six were entered in 1897 at the Dairy, and 
twenty-two at the Palace, and eighteen entries each in 1898 
at either show. At the Leghorn Fanciers' Club Show at St. 
Alban's last year there were no fewer than forty entries of 
Black Leghorns, probably the best collection ever got to- 
gether, the number of blacks being in excess of any other 
variety of Leghorns, and almost equalling the combined en- 
tries of the two leading varieties, the white and the brown; 
and at a local show at Stratford in January, 1899, there were 
no fewer than twenty-seven entries of Black Leghorns." The 
reverend gentleman adds that, "During a holiday cycling tour 
last year in Switzerland, chiefly in the Canton of Zurich and 
through the Engadine, I saw thousands of Black Leghorns.- 
On inquiring the name of the fowl I was universally t6ld 
they were 'Italiens.' I should probably be within the mark if 
I said fifty per cent of the poultry I saw were Leghorns, 
and that the ma.iority of these were black. They are brought 
over from Italy in large consignments and sold as egg pro- 
ducers. I don't think many are bred in Switzerland, as I 
saw very few chickens. They were mostly adult birds kept 
for the express purpose of egg producing, and fresh batches 
are purchased each year. There are very few poultry 'fan- 
ciers' in Switzerland, but no attempt was made, so far as I 
could find out, to keep the birds pure. They formed the ordi- 
nary farmyard stock, running about with other breeds, and 
were kept for utility only. There is, I think, little doubt 
that they are a pure variety of long standing, not a made 
variety like some other of the minor breeds of Leghorns, and 
the work of the English fancier lies more in the direction of 
careful selection than in the introduction of alien blood." 

It is left to the American and English fanciers to im- 
prove this bird by intelligent selection, and now that the 
start has been made in earnest, the outcome is assured. 

BUFF LEGHORNS. 

The Buff Leghorn has a long way to go before it attains 
the standing of the Brown in the matter of shape. For some 
years after their introduction the majority of Buffs shown 
possessed low set heavy frames and large combs. In the 
males this trouble has been especially noticeable, the Minor- 
ca-like comb being present in all its glory, but more or less 
wrinkled and thumb marked. The lobes have possessed 
more red than the standard provides for and have been 



in many cases extremely rough. The bird, too, has been set 
upon short legs, so that, although it has approached the 
Minorca in form, it has possessed a more squatty appear- 
ance. The female has been similar in shape with a long 
body, enormous comb, lobes slightly better than the male, 
but the tail has been long and closely folded. In this par- 
ticular the difference between it and the standard descrip- 
tion has been more pronounced even than in the White Leg- 
horn. The Minorca comb on the female had, of course the 
representative front loop. 

In recent years fanciers in trying to get away from 
this low set, blocky, long bodied type of bird have produced 
a much smaller Buff Leghorn, which is no larger nor longer 
on the legs than the older varieties. With the foundation 
of the large body which we have mentioned there was a 
grand opportunity to keep the size in the Buffs, especially 
as the color advanced so quickly. We believe the length of 
leg and the reduction in size of comb could be obtained upon 
those strains which have not been hurriedly reduced in size, 
and this, with particular attention to type, would result in a 
Leghorn that wouid have an especial advantage over its 
sister varieties in point of size. We would impress upon 
the breeder, "however, the importance of maintaining the 
shape and style of the Leghorn even if it is done at the ex- 
pense of size. ' 

The exact shade of the Buff Leghorn has been a point of 
contention for some years. It has had, however, in this 
particular, the advantage of being grouped with several 
other Buff breeds, and the argument has been carried on 
generally with all these breeds in the field. It has been a 
question of what shade governs, and we think the Leghorn 
has taken the lead in fixing the color during the few years 
it has been exhibited. Perhaps the closer feathering of the 
breed gives it a different appearance to that of other buffi 
breeds. Be it what it may, there is no doubt the Buff Leg- 
horn has approached nearer the correct shade of buff and has 
produced a greater percentage of chicks true to color than 
i-any ether buff breed has done in the same time, even includ- 
ing the Buff Cochin of long standing. 

We think the question of which is the proper shade need 
not bother the fancier much. It is like gold mining — there 
is often a donbt as to whether the metal turned up by the 
prospector is, or is not really gold, but once let the real 
thing come to the surface and no doubt remains. When the 
correct shade of buff is once seen there is no doubt as to its 
genuineness, and when judged without bias, neither cinna- 
mon nor a mealy washed out shade has any standing be- 
side it. 

SILVER DUCKWING LEGHORNS. 

The Silver Duckwing Leghorns, although showy birds, 
have not commanded the attention one would expect. Their 
affinity with the Duckwing Game and similarity of color 
may account for this. They are seldom shown and little 
bred. Although the female breast Is described by the stan- 
dard as light salmon, there is a great difference between it 
and the rich salmon of the Brown Leghorn, the first named 
approaching the paleness of the Duckwing Game, while the 
"rich" salmon in the Brown Leghorn's breast is supposed to 
designate a far darker shade — another opening for a definite 
expression of color by the standard. 

Strict attention must be paid to shape (or type if you 
like it) in this variety, if it is desired to make it a credit to 
the Leghorn class. 

Take the Leghorns as a whole and we believe they ap- 
proach nearer to standard typical shape than any other 
class outside of the Game. This is a feather in the cap of 
Leghorn fanciers, and it matters little whether that feather 
bo plucked from a Brown, White. Black. Buff or Duckwing 
Leghorn. 




(OPYRIOMT 
fiV Tnfr 
REUmBLE- POULTRY JOuRNfli, 



LEGHORN MALE SHAPE— By Sewell 
S/*r^ e,Bftf Prom/„e«r J^dses and Breeders tor Critlcisn, Based upon Standard Requirements. 



LEGHORN MALE SHAPE. 



Criticisms of Foremost Judges and Leghorn Breeders on a "Composite Ideal from Live Models," as Drawn by 

Franklane L. Sewell — A Collection of Opinions that are In Themselves Authority on the 

Ideal Shape of a Standard-bred Leghorn. 



From the Reliable Poultry Journal. 



THE following comments on Mr. Sewell's conception of 
standard Leghorn male shape show that the Leg- 
horn breeders of the country are loyal to their fa- 
vorites. Notwithstanding the fact that we have 
more breeders of Plymouth Rocks than of Leghtorns, still 
the Leghorn breeders who have responded to the Journal's 
request for criticisms of the male Leghorn shape presented 
by Mr. Sewell exceed in number those who responded on 
Plymouth Rock male shape by over twenty per cent. These 
criticisms, to the number of sixty-eight, are submitted here- 
with. — Editor. 

I. K. Felch, Massachusetts, judge and breeder: "The 
head is not quite large enough and the comb is set too far 
forward. The first point is not prominent enough; the mid- 
dle point should always be the largest and longest. Rear 
point is a trifle too large and long, but if it is reduced the 
rear flange will be too long. The comb should be slipped back, 
rear flange shortened, comb elongated in front of first point 
and first point lowered. Wattles shortened about one-fifth 
and front of throat and upper breast narrowed a trifle. 
The fullest part of breast should be exactly in front of the 
center of wing bow. The tail proper is spread a little too 
wide. Had it been made with two more feathers and not 
been fanned out quite so much it would be better. It shows 
the feathers themselves too wide for the length in the tail 
proper and there should be at least five side hangers Instead 
of only three prominent ones. Close the tail ten per cent so 
that it will not appear so wide at the tips of feathers proper. 
While I should like the leg to be apparently longer, I think 
if we demand that birds shall equal this one and cut them if 
they fall short in this particular, it will not be long before 
the bone will be larger. You know our Leghorns' shanks 
are really small. Reduce size of hock and leg, which -will 
give greater apparent length. The right leg and hock are 
a trifle thick; the length is right, I think." 



F. J. Marshall, Ohio, judge and breeder: "In 
regard to the Sewell drawing of the Leghorn male, 
would say I find but little fault with it. First, the beak 
seems a little short and the comb runs too far front on the 
beak. Head a little small. Comb is about right to my no- 
tion. Neck good. Back too much on a slant, should run a 
little straighter back from neck, and be filled in a little more 
at juncture with tail, not too much angle there. Breast 
good. Body and wings good, tail spread a trifle too much 
up and down and a little too long out from tip of wings, 
which makes the bird look too long from center of breast 
to rear of tail. However it is the best all-round one we 
have ever seen." 



H. S. Babcock, Rhode Island, judge and breeder: "The 
Leghorn cock is in many respects admirable. The follow- 
ing changes, however, wouVl bring the cut nearer the stand- 
ard ideal and nearer the ideal of some breeders, I think: 
First, comb could be reduced a trifle in height with advan- 



tage; second, neck be made more slender; third, thighs a 
bit longer; fourth, tail more erect. Upon this fourth point 
I am aware that breeders have been attempting to secure the 
carriage of the tail somewhat as represented in the cut, but 
a Leghorn naturally carries his tail very erectly, and the 
standard demands that it should be so carried. The decrip- 
tion, "Tail large, full and carried upright,' is hardly met 
by the cut, the carriage of the tail as represented being more 
nearly like that we find in Hamburgs, though we prefer in 
Hamburgs a tail less upright than in this cut. I should pre- 
fer the wattles not quite so long as represented in the cut, 
though the standard requires that they be long, and I should 
also prefer them to be somewhat rounder in outline. I think 
both of these changes could be made and yet have the wat- 
tles conform to standard requirements. While I have 
pointed out what seem to me to be defects, I desire to ex- 
press my admiration for the cut, and I am certain that if a 
Leghorn male exactly conformed to this cut, and had good 
color, there would be little danger of his being served upon 
the table to satisfy the cravings of hunger." 



F. H. Shellabarger, Iowa, judge and breeder: "In our 
judgment this is the best outline we have seen. A tx-ifle 
more concave to the saddle, also a little more development 
of fluff would break up the shallow look of the outline at 
the tip of wings when viewed for depth. The tail would 
stand to be elevated just a trifle and not be out of har- 
mony with the reading of the standard. The wing tips are 
shown a trifle low. We consider the outline in all other re- 
spects up to our fancy as based upon our understanding of 
the standard." 



Theo. Hewes, Indiana, judge and breeder: "There are 
few better ones, but as we are after perfection we can 
usually flnd fault with what we have. The faults I find in 
this bird are that it is too short on legs, comb too large and 
coarse, wattles too large, and main tail just a trifle too 
short. The tail is carried at about the proper elevation, but 
should have a little more added to it. We want a Brown 
Leghorn to look active and sprightly and well up on his legs, 
but they have been running down in size. I am willing to 
accept a heavier bird than we have been finding, and for 
this reason find no fault with the large legs and frame of 
this cut. I think the majority of breeders prefer something 
on this line, but they will call for a longer leg than this cut 
shows. We do not want the Minorca comb by any means. 
We want a small comb, that is, small when compared to a 
Minorca's, and the serrations not so prominent. The idea 
that we have to get a larger comb in order to keep up the 
egg production has about gone its rounds. The selection of 
the best individual layer for our breeding pens will keep the 
egg basket full." 



D. T. Heimlich, Illinois, judge and breeder: "The only 
faults I can see in the picture of the S. C. B. Leghorn 
cockerel aro that the front point of comb runs up too high 




COPVRIOMT, 
^vT«^ 
retlABLt POULTRY JOuRNflU 



STANDARD LEGHORN MALE SHAPE. 

An Ideal Leghorn, Illustrated by Franklane L. Sewell, tor the Reliable Poultry Journal, under ihe Suggestions of Sixty-eight Prominent 
Judges and Breeders— The Outcome of Criticism Upon the Leghorn Male Shape Shown on Page 8. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



11 



and is set too far forward, causing it to appear a trifle 
too large and angular for a Leghorn comb. This section 
should be nicely rounded over beak, the rear point not larger 
than the second point from front, as here represented. This, 
too, would give a better balance to the whole. The wattles 
seem too long for a Leghorn. The standard calls for a me- 
dium comb, and this comb and wattles tend too much to 
Minorca type." 



C. A. Bmry, Missouri, judge and breeder: "Comb, too 
much space from crown of head to bottom serrations. 
Breast should be more full and prominent. Wings, too 
small and outer points carried too low. Tail, too narrow at 
base and carriage too low. The tail on 
cock, 'Brutus,' suits me better. Legs 
stand in a very unn.atural position, giv- 
ing bird a twisted look. If right leg 
was set a trifle back and left leg a little 
forward, breast and entire bird would 
show far better Leghorn symmetry." 



shape, but a pretty good Minorca shape. It is too straight 
up in front and looks too heavy. I fancy a comb the shape 
of Mr. McCartney's ideal in Reliable Poultry Journal, ex- 
cept back part of it, which should be nearly like Sewell's, 
but raised up from neck an eighth of an inch, or possibly a 
trifle more. Center spike of comb ought to be directly over 
the eye, as I find It in the majority of good combs. This 
comb on proof is, to my notion, the greatest defect. I think 
the head should be just a little deeper, showing about a 
hair's breadth more face; balance of head all right. I would 
take just a little off the arch of the neck, for a rather long- 
necked bird seldom shows quite as much arch as the proof, 
when standing as erect as in the picture. I would also trim 



Charles McClave, Ohio, judge and 
breeder : "Head, shape good; comb, 
too heavy and too much like Minorca 
in size. Wattles and ear-lobes, good. 
Neck, too heavy, but otherwise good. 
Back, all right. Breast, outline good. 
Wings, good. Tail, too far back and 
not erect enough. Legs and shanks, 
shape good, except too heavy. General 
outline good, except too massive and 
more Minorca type than Leghorn." 



Frank W. Breed, California, judge 
and breeder: "I consider this Leghorn 
male cut one of the most typical and 
best representations of the variety yet 
submitted to the fancy. It does not 
quite meet the lines of my ideal, but 
approaches them so closely I hardly 
feel justified in wishing it altered to 
any great extent. The blade of the comb 
is a little wide for depth of serrations, 
and these same serrations preserve too 
much of a straight line in meeting it. 
The most attractive combs are those 
which, were the spikes cut off at their 
juncture with blade, would leave us a 
slightly convex surface, whose lowest 
point would be at front of blade and 
vertex at base of third serration, ter- 
minating at fifth incision in a slight 

concave sweep, which would bring the rear point of the 
blade a little higher than tip of first spike, and merge at 
the rear in a sharp, convex end, which would gradually 
lose its strength in its downward course, around the rear 
of the blade, until it is lost in a straight line running into the 
head. The forward part should recede a little more from 
point of beak before merging into first spike. The head 
is a trifle long. Those ear-lobes whose edge is freest from 
red and which fit closest to the head are round and saucer 
shaped. Tail is a trifie overspread and fanned. In furnish- 
ings it carries the impression of not being fully mature. 
Legs are a trifle short and coarse in bone. Taking the bird 
as a whole he is a trifle stout — were he more slim, it would 
give him a longer and more airy, sprightly appearance." 




' BRft 






Bratus," a Winning Brown Leghorn— Owned by Judd H. Johnson. 

[Referred to in the Criticisms of C. A. Emry and G. G. Wheat.] 

a little off the breast at about the point of breast bone for 
same reason as on neck. Outside of these changes, I would 
be satisfied with him, though his wing might be tucked up a 
little at the lower end, as it is just a trifle too low, though 
birds with good station carry their wings a little lower at 
the ends than duck-shaped birds do. Tail just suits me, 
though not as high as I read the standard to call for, but 
just what we are all after." 



W. S. Russell, Iowa, judge and breeder: "Comb too 
large and coarse, extends too far out over the beak, too 
fuU in front. The serrations are not deep enough. Head 
looks a trifle small in proportion with the comb. Shanks 
are too short, thighs are of good length." 



George W. Osterhout, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "I consider the comb to be poor Leghorn 



F. B. Zimmer, New York, judge and breeder: "The 
worst features I note, in this Leghorn cut, are the comb 



12 



THE LEGHORNS. 



the wattles and the tail. The comb is too high and too 
large to suit me, or the standard either, as I understand 
it. It says. 'Comh, medium size." The one in the cut savors 
too much of the Minorca. The wattles are too long and pen- 
dulous, they are not rounded enough. The tail should be 
carried a trifle higher." 



Ezra Cornell. New i'ork, breeder of Single Comb White 
and Buff Leghorns: "The cut is in all respects a good 
one, that is, it is true to the standard requirements. Any 
criticisms which I might make are therefore merely per- 
sonal fancies. This might be, to some of your readers, mis- 
leading, but if they will look to the standard they will see 



with the heavier draft horses. The tail is also not quite to 
my taste; it is carried about right and is about right in size, 
but the lower feathers are too long in comparison to the 
upper ones. I have before me a cut of a Brown Leghorn 
cockerel, also one of Mr. Sewell's productions, sent me a 
few days ago by Mr. George Osterhout, of Nebraska, 
which I prefer to the one we are considering. He is better 
in the three sections I have specially mentioned; more 
nearly in accordance with my idea of a correct Leghorn 
cockerel." 




George 0. Browu Maryland, judge and breeder, and 
ex-president of the American Poultry Association: "Comb 

is too large for size of bird; wat- 
tles are too long; ear lobe comes 
too much to a point on the lower 
I side; tail comes out of the back 

■ " *" in too upright a way and the 

sickles, etc., should be a little 
higher; neck a little too thick; 
breast not quite full enough." 



T. B. Sherman, New York, 
breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I do 
not feel competent to criticise 
the work of so eminent an artist 
as Mr. Sewell, but this does not 
exactly suit me in a few partic- 
ulars. The wattles are a little 
too long for the width; the comb 
is a little too high in front, the 
back part is too low or follows 
the curve of the neck too much. 
The legs and thighs are a trifle 
too stout. Buff Leghorn breeders 
in the past have had to give more 
attention to establishing color 
than to any other thing, but 
when that is thoroughly estab- 
lished, then 'all other things 
shall be added.' 



Kuuu C Jit ■ Mo - IS*". 
GCfiiW-OsTeRMouT • 



Brown Leghorn Cockerel, Bred and Owned by Ceo. W. Osterhout. 

1 Referred tu in the Criticism by Ezra Cornell, j 

that two birds could differ quite a bit and still be stand- 
ard birds, as. for example, take the comb. What one fancier 
would class as a large comb another would class as medium 
size, etc. In this way a bird is more or less severely criti- 
cised by different judges. In case of the cut under consid- 
eration, I do not fancy its general outline, although it is as 
near what is called for by the standard as it would be if 
altered to suit me. The comb's main fault is that it extends 
too far forward over the beak; such a comb has a tendency 
to thumb marks and twists. Combs that start back on leav- 
ing the head will, nine times out of ten, be better and give 
the bird a more jaunty appearance. The bird is also too 
fully developed for a cockerel; he has the form of a well 
matured cock bird. Many judges are constantly calling for 
heavier Leghorns. I do not want a little, slim, frail bird; 
neither do I want a bird weighted down with meat. A Leg- 
horn should have a quick, sprightly, trim appearance; he 
should compare with the Dorking and other heavily meated 
table varieties as our trotting or running horses '^ompare 



William Ellery Bright, Massa- 
chusetts, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Mr. Sewell 
and myself have so often dis- 
cussed his portrayal of Leghorn 
type that the following criti- 
cisms will not in the least sur- 
prise him. My idea of this ideal 
It has a great many features that are 



Leghorn is this 

extremely bad and but tew that are good. Taken as a 
whole, it seems to me that if I should ever encounter this 
bird in real life (and I have seen very nearly its counter- 
part) I should let him go with that very unique expression 
of cur Bantam friend, Zimmer, 'He's a duffer.' I certainly 
hope that the Leghorn breeders will take the trouble to 
explain wherein t'nis so-called ideal departs from the ideal, 
as the foremost breeders for the most part see it. 

"The Brown Leghorn is a bird the characteristics of 
which provoke as little discussion as those of either sex of 
any variety that is worth any discussion whatever. Just 
why this model should be fitted out with a Minorca comb. 
Pit Game legs or pigeon wings is past the comprehension of 
cne who lives with this breed of birds. 

"One of the most catchy attributes of a good Leghorn 
male is his grateful carriage. There are several things about 
this model that would take away much of the jaunty air we 
like to see. The body is not set high enough by a long way. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



13 



The thighs are bunchy and muscular, resembling those of 
the Game varieties, while the standard calls for slender 
thighs. Another and perhaps the most glaring fault, is the 
sharp angle that the keel bone makes with the ground. This 
gives the back too sloping an effect. With the back sloping 
as sharply as this one does, it would be impossible to get 
that concave sweep to the tail that the standard calls for, 
and though so seldom seen is such a necessity to complete 
the graceful lines of the bird. 

"While the comb itself is one that would be cut lightly, 
it is not the style to be copied. It is one of the high, slender 
sort that cannot be depended upon to keep erect itself or to 
breed combs that would be permanently erect. It has other 
quite noticeable faults. The front point is too far forward. 
The last two points do not keep the general 
direction of the others. A model comb should 
be lower, firmer, and should not have as 
much space between the top of the head 
and the bottom of the serrations. The neck 
is well drawn. The wings are very faulty. 
They are not broad enough just below the 
shoulder and are not carried well, that is. 
they are not tucked close enough to the body. 
The tail is in the main very good, but the 
main tail feathers should be longer and meet 
the sickles. 

"The great misconception of the artist, I 
think, has been in following too closely what 
some winners have been and not what they 
should have been. Very few of the Brown 
Leghorn males are typical as they might be. 
Occasionally we see one in the show pens, but 
we see them even less frequently on paper." 



prefer deeper and not as wide at the base. I also would 
prefer one more serration, counting five, by not counting 
the first or smaller serration at front of comb. The size of 
this comb gives it a beefy appearance, and I think all 
breeders of the Leghorn have worked hard and have suc- 
ceeded well in decreasing the size of the male Leghorn comb. 
The wattles I would decrease a very little in length and add 
slightly to the width of them, which would make a more per- 
fect wattle. Where the hackle approaches the back I would 
prefer a very little more concave sweep, but would rather 
leave it as it is than have too much of it. At the point of 
the breast bone (see nomenclature in standard) the cut is a 
little scant; a little fullness would add to shape. I would 
have the main sickles at the point where the ends start to 



George G. Wheat. Kansas, breeder of 
Single Comb Brown Leghorns: "The cut is 
excellent. Breeders of Leghorns may well 
try to get a few cockerels each year like him; 
yet I believe there is an opportunity for im- 
provement both Jn sections and in pose of the 
bird. The comb is too heavy for the head, 
both in front and back parts. Make the first 
two and last serrations deeper, and lower the 
back projection a trifle; also make the last 
point a little shorter. Wattles would b^^ bet- 
ter if a fraction shorter. Lobes O. K. Neck 
and head seem raised a little out of a natural 
position which, with the right foot placed in 
front, presents a defiant, 'eager-for-conquest' 
attitude, which does not belong to the Leg- 
horn. I would prefer a position similar to 
that shown in the cut of S. C. B. Leghorn 
cock "Brutus." 

"Cut away about one-eighth of an inch from the lov/er 
part of the body, beginning one-half inch in front of the 
righL thigh and extending backward to about the center of 
the left thigh. This will give the body the appearance of 
breadth rather than depth and give the breast a prominent 
and more rounded appearance. Back good. Wings too 
small and short. Thighs a little long and heavy. Shanks 
and feet could hardly be improved. Tail would bear two or 
three additional coverts." 




George H. Burgott, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Ths cut is a very good one, and Mr. 
Sewell deserves much commendation for it. The head is 
a little scant over the eye, and if a little fuller would make 
a more symmetrical head. The comb is a little large, the 
outline fine, with the exception of the serrations, which I 



PRESlDEriTS CUP 

W" E-LLERY Bfi 

OWNER NajiEEOCB 



Worcester 8th." First Prize Brown Legliorn Coclierel at /Vew York, 1903. Bred and 
Owned by William tilery Bright. 



drcop about one-quarter of an inch higher; perhaps I can 
make this plainer by saying this point should be the highest 
part of the outline of the bird's tail. This, of course, would 
raise the whole tail slightly and bring it a trifle closer to a 
horizontal line drawn across the base of the main sickles. 
I would add to length of thigh one-eighth of an inch and to 
shank one-quarter of an inch. I would jokingly say. we will 
have to get them sixteen and one-half hands high to suit the 
boys that pay the long prices. I want to say again that this 
is a very good piece of work, and I for one wish to extend 
my congratulations to Mr. Sewell." 



Dr. H. W. Dorsey, Maryland, breeder of Single Comh 
Brown Leghorns: "The Leghorn male cut is good, but it 
is too thick about the neck. The comb is larger than we 
are trying to get them. To get smaller combs they should 



14 



THE LEGHORNS. 



recede in front and the spike should be above the horizontal 
line instead of falling below it and hugging the back of the 
head. It would be more typical, I think, if the tail was even 
higher than I have made it." [Dr. Dorsey cut the proof in 
two at the juncture of the tail and body and then set the tail 
forward on the back five-sixteenths or a little more than a 
quarter of an inch, leaving the body from rear of shanks to 
tail the same as it was in original cut. This elevates the 
tail and shortens the back. He also cut a quarter of an inch 
from the highest arch of the neck, tapering the cut to the 
comb and back, — Editor.] 



W. W. Kulp, Pennsylvania, breeder of Single and Rose 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "The cut of the cock is a fine one, 
but I would take one-fifth from his wattles and one-fifth 
from the comb, independent of the serrations. The middle 
serration should be the same height as the base or blade of 
the comb at its highest point. I would move the serrations 
backward until the third or middle one was directly over the 
eye. There is too much comb over the beak and the first 
two serrations should be cut lower. The last points should 
be lower than the middle one, giving the comb a beautiful 
oval. The present comb is low enough in the first two 
points, but not cut deep enough. I think there is a mistake 
in saddle. I compared the cut to my living specimens and I 
find the saddle and tail in the drawing to be of a narrow- 
backed bird, while the front part of the body is that of a fine 
broad specimen. The main part of the saddle is at the side 
of the tail, while on a broad, properly built back it flows 
sidewise. If the first and second sickle feathers were moved 
back to where the third feather begins with the saddle car- 
ried no farther back it would be nearer perfection. Mov- 
ing the sickles will lengthen the back a bit, which looks a 
little Short cow considering the thickness of neck. The 
angle of the tail I consider perfect for beauty of form." 



S. S. Noble, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "I consider the cut of the Leghorn male very, 
very fine, and will not attempt to find any fault with same. 
The comb does not suit me exactly, being a trifle too far 
forward and too upright in front and a trifle too far to 
first point. I call him the finest type of a Leghorn male I 
ever saw on paper or in life." 



C. E. Howell, New York, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: The general outline of the bird seems short 
in proportion to its height, a little more length of back and 
a trifle shorter in neck would improve it. The comb is high; 
the fault lies in the distance from crown of head to the 
bottom of the serrations, The tail, breast and thighs are 
just my idea. With these few corrections it would suit me." 



H. C. Young, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "It is my opinion that the cut of the S. C. Brown 
Leghorn male bird comes nearer the standard requirements 
than any cut that has been given in any of the poultry mag- 
azines. It strikes me as being an ideal bird. If I should 
make any criticisms I would suggest that the comb is a little 
too full in front and does not slope quite enough to the first 
point, and that his legs are a trifle short, and that his tail 
might be carried just a little hig'her in order to be in touch 
with tlie large majority of the Leghorn male birds." 



Charles D. Price, California, breeder of Buff Leghorns: 
"The drawing comes so near my ideal that I feel incompe- 
tent to criticise the same. There are a very few points 
which do not exactly coincide with my views, such as the 
legs being a little stocky. Drawing a line through the mid- 
dle of the comb, at the base of the serrations, I would say 



that it is a little straight, nevertheless a beautiful comb, 
and the head taken as a whole is a grand one. The tail also 
does not exactly coincide with my ideas, but as I have said 
before, the bird is so near the ideal that I hesitate to even 
offer one criticism, and were I to have the birds judged 1 
should be willing the judge should use this drawing as a 
standard." 



C. H. Wyckoff, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
White Leghorns: "The cut of Leghorn male suits my ideas 
exactly, for, while being fine in shape and style, it is also 
highly indicative of strength and vigor." 



E. H. Hoffman, Wisconsin, breeder of Single Comb 
White Leghorns: "I think the comb is too high and beefy 
and follows the shape of the neck too much. The neck is 
well arched, but a trifle too thick. The breast and back are 
good, although I like the back a little longer. This would 
be all right if the neck were remedied. I like a little more 
station on Leghorn males, otherwise the cut suits me." 



Oliver L. Dosch, Ohio, breeder of Single Comb White 
Leghorns: "Mr. Sewell has fairly outdone himself in this 
illustration. With but slight changes in three sections we 
would pronounce it perfect. In head, breast, back, legs 
and fluff the artist has followed the standard very closely, 
but the wings are too small. The standard calls for large 
wings. The comb is too high, the best birds have lower 
combs, and the tail is not quite long enough and is spread 
more than necessary. This style of tail is more often seen 
on the Brown than the White Leghorn, and to our mind 
is not the highest form. The back of this specimen Is par- 
ticularly fine. To get females with that slight cushion 
which is the finishing touch of the Leghorn pullet, we must 
breed from males which have the standard back, viz., 'with 
the saddle rising in a sharp concave sweep to the tail.' With 
this illustration as a guide, the squatty, squirrel-tailed, 
Game-backed specimens should be forever banished from 
the breeding pen." 



E. P. Shepherd, New York, breeder of Buff Leghorns 
and secretary of Buff Leghorn Club: "Referring to the 
illustration of Leghorn male, I beg to say that there is too 
much beef in comb and wattles; lobe is a trifle too wide, the 
whole headgear would do a Minorca proud. In Mr. Galllnger's 
ad in Reliable Poultry Journal Leghorn male's head shows 
our ideal comb, barring the top of rear part, which is fin- 
ished oft too bluntly, but that may have been caused by an 
injury to the cut. This ideal cut from back to breast is too 
thick. Cut away the lower part of neck and upper part of 
back, making it more concave, and in my estimation the 
illustration could not be bettered." 



George H. Gallinger, New York, breeder of Sin- 
gle Comb Brown Leghorns: "I think this bird a little heavy 
in comb. Wattles are a little narrow; breast is not quite full 
enough; wing bow is not covered by breast feathers; shank 
is a little short. In other respects I think the cut is good." 



J. A. Weerts, Illinois, "breeder of Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "Tail is too low. Sickles too long and too 
curved. This change and the breast made a trifle fuller I 
think would make the bird as near perfect as can be." 



Charles C. Ferris, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Cut of Brown Leghorn male received. 
He is quite a Leghorn, but he would suit me better if the 
following changes were made: Blade of comb too wide, ser- 
rations should begin farther back from beak, rear points too 
large. Head and face too small. Earlobe too large; It is 



THE LEGHORNS. 



lo 



nearly as large as his head. Wattles too long and attached 
too far forward on mandible. Breast should be fuller high- 
er up. Fluff needs trimming off. Tail too low for standard, 
but it suits me. Wing a trifle small, and the front should be 
lowered a little. Thigh too prominent. I would lengthen 
shank somewhat, but perhaps when fluff was taken out he 
would be far enough from the ground." 



Mrs. B. G. Mackey, Missouri, breeder of Single 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "It is with reluctance that I ven- 
ture to criticise Mr. Sewell's ideal shape of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorn cockerel, and I confess that I should be 
proud to possess one so near my ideal as the cut sent. But 
as I understand the standard the comb is rather large, the 
neck too thick, the back a little short and low, the legs and 
thighs too thick." 



William P. Brace (of Brace & Walling), New York, 
breeder of Single Comb Brown and Buff Leghorns: "Comb 
too high in front over bill; it would be better on a Minorca 
than on a Leghorn. Head too small for size of bird. Lobes 
good. Wattles too slim, not full enough. Neck too much 
curved in upper portion. Back good. Wings too upright in 
position and a trifle short. Tail would be improved if main 
feathers were shorter and sickles longer, and if it were car- 
ried more upright. It would then have the effect of being 
nearer the body, while at present it appears too far away, 
making under portion of body too long. Legs a trifle short, 
and middle toes too long." 



August D. Arnold, Pennsylvania, breeder of Buff Leg- 
horns and ex-president of Buff Leghorn Club: "As regards 
Mr. Sewell's cut of a Leghorn male will say it comes pretty 
well up to my ideal except in comb, which is a little too high 
and follows shape of neck a little too much. Breast should 
be a little more prominent; there should also be somewhat 
more length to legs." 



L. P. Harris, Nebraska, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I 
consider the illustration a fine one, but at the same time I 
consider the comb too large, being too high from the head 
to the base of serrations. It rises too straight and too high 
from the beak. The wattles are too long; earlobes are too 
large; neck is rather thick. Back is fine, as is also breast 
and body. The tail is my idea of perfection. The wings 
are carried too low at the points and the legs are too short 
to be in good proportion to size of body. Toes too long." 



George H. Bie, Wisconsin, breeder of Single Comb 
White and Brown Leghorns: "The comb on this bird is 
carried too far forward and too high over the beak, and it is 
too much inclined to follow the shape of the neck. Head too 
small; does not show face enough. Eye too small. Wattles 
a trifle too long. Raise the lesser sickle feathers on tail a 
trifle higher and add a trifle more to the length to shanks, 
and he will suit me all right." 



James McCann, Jr., New York, breeder of Single 
Comb White Leghorns: "The bird is too short in back; 
comb too far over bill and too high to -where points com- 
mence. Wattles too long and slim; legs too stocky, and mid- 
dle toe too long; in fact, the bird is too blocky to suit me. ' 



John Torrey, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown and Buff Leghorns: "One at the first glance would 
think this proof could not be modeled to any better advant- 
age, but on studying the proof, I find that his comb runs 
too high before the first break. The small point is not con- 
sidered by many to be a point. He has only four points and 



he should have five or six with the small one. The neck is 
a trifle heavy; breast is not quite full enough, and wings not 
tucked up enough, carried too much on the Sebright Ban- 
tam order. Wattles have not the fold in them they should 
have. Tail, legs, toes and back all right." 



M. Bradley, Missouri, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "If such a fine specimen can be found 
fault with, I think the comb is a little too large for the head; 
also lies too close to neck at back. The thighs are just a 
trifle short. Yours was a happy thought to get the judges, 
fanciers and advertisers into a sort of home circle." 



J. I. DeLancey, Illinois, breeder of Buff, Single Comb 
White and Rose Comb Brown Leghorns: "The proof of 
Leghorn male, executed by Sewell, is to my mind almost 
perfect. I think the saddle a little short and not quite high 
enough, and the shanks should be more slender." 



E. Bertram Pike, New Hampshire, breeder of Single 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "As a matter of fact the bird 
sketched by Mr. Sewell represents, as a whole, very nearly 
my idea of what a typical male Leghorn should be. I am 
decidedly in favor of more size in Leghorns than the aver- 
age breeder has yet attained, and think perhaps a trifle 
longer leg would not bo out of proportion to the body he has 
sketched. Your effort to determine, by a concensus of opin- 
ion, what the typical bird of each breed shall be, thereby 
establishing greater uniformity in breeding and a more re- 
liable standard, is most commendable and I trust will meet 
the success it merits." 



W. C. Hunter, Missouri, breeder of Rose Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Head too small, too much on the Game 
order. Comb too large for size of head. Earlobes and wat- 
tles good, but somewhat large for head. Head not in pro- 
portion to size of body. Back too long and too low, and void 
of that nice graceful shape and concave of the Leghorn in 
this section. Tail too low; stands too far back and hangs 
too low. Same with wings; too low. Legs good, but toes 
too large; center toes out of proportion." 



George W. Brown, Arkansas, breeder of White and 
Brown Leghorns: "The drawing of the male Leghorn is 
truly a magnificent bird, with neck, breast, back and tail 
beyond criticism. The comb extends a shade too far on the 
beak, legs are perhaps a trifle short, and middle toes a frac- 
tion too long; otherwise we consider it an ideal drawing 
and a model worthy of our best effort to imitate." 



E. D. Frock, Colorado, breeder of Black Leg- 
horns: "The proof of Leghorn male submitted is not in 
my opinion seriously defective in any one section in typical 
shape as required by the standard, the back being most no- 
ticeable. For my ideal the comb is rather too large, of a 
Minorca size. I prefer under rather than above the average 
now shown on Leghorns. The lobes are too broad, not 
enough oval shape; wattles are narrow; breast is hardly full 
enough; not sufficient concave sweep to back, particularly 
at root of tail; tail carried too low, but is well spread and 
has long, well curved, broad sickles; thighs are about as 
much too long as the shanks are too short; feet too large; 
middle toe is almost as long as shank. The feathering is 
close and the bird muscular looking to a nice degree." 



W. T. Nay lor, Ohio, breeder of Buff Leghorns: 
"The illustration of the Leghorn cockerel is so near per- 
fect in typical shape for a Buff Leghorn that I can find 
very little chance for comment. I cannot see where the il- 



16 



THE LEGHORNS. 



lustration could be bettered in any point, but if the cut is 
meant to represent all varieties of Leghorns, I consider the 
tail carried too low for a White, Brown or Black Leghorn. 
With all my experience I have never had a Buff to compare 
in typical shape with the other varieties of Leghorns. I 
wouid be pleased to hear from others who are breeding 
Buffs." 



Acme Poultry Yards, California, breeders of White, 
Brown and Black Leghorns: "Our criticisms on the 
Brown Leghorn male are: Comb entirely too large. Lobss 
twice as large as they should be. Wattles too long and ill- 
shaped. Neck a trifle too thick. Breast and body too thick 
and clumsy for a Leghorn. Wings carried too low, too much 
on the Bantam order. Slant of back towards the tail not high 
enough; should be a sharp concave sweep to the tail. Fluff 
too deep. Thighs too thick and shanks too short and thick. 
Tail carried a trifle loo high and sickles curved too much at 
the ends." 



John H. Ryan, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "His comb is good, wattles a shade long. 
It will be hard to breed them so long and narrow. His 
hackle and saddle are all right, with good black stripe. Sym- 
metry is perfect." 



W. A. Irvin, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "In comparing the proof sent me with 
other proofs. I find the drawing by Mr. Sewell a great im- 
provement over all others. 1. for one, would gladly accept 
the outline by Mr. Sewell of the Single Comb Brown Leg- 
horn male as typical standard shape." 



R. A. Maples, Iowa, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "Re- 
ferring to the cut of the male Leghorn, will say that it 
conforms very closely to my understanding of the standard. 
The comb is a trifle too large: would prefer tail carried more 
upright, back is a shade long and slopes too much to the 
tail. But. as a whole, it is the best we have yet seen." 

George J. Nissly, Michigan, breeder of Buffi and 
Brown Leghorits: "While the cut on the whole is a good 
one, yet it does not quite meet my approval in all respects. 
I think the tail should be more upright. It looks too much 
like a Dorking. Comb too high in front and serrations not 
quite deep enough; the middle spike should be the largest, 
which is not exactly the case in the cut. Shanks should be 
a little longer. Flight feathers of wing should be carried 
up a little more under the saddle. The saddle feathers, too, 
should cover more of the flights. There are a few more 
minor points I might prefer a little different, but as it is 
much easier to criticise than to produce anything perfect, I 
will desist." 



0. E. Skinner, Kansas, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Referring to the Single Comb Brown 
Leghorn proof, I think it represents a bird too long from tall 
to beak to be my ideal of a Leghorn male. Nor is the back 
quite concave enough. Tail is carried a little coo low." 



Walter R. Hibberd, Pennsylvania, breeder of Buff Leg- 
horns: "I am in receipt of an excellent cut of a Brown Leg- 
horn male. As I look at it a little more length of leg and a 
trifle shorter neck would be an improvement. The back, 
too, looks long and most too straight. All other parts seem 
perfect." 



H. E. Benedict, New York, breeder of Rose Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Mr. Sewell's cut of the male Leghorn 
is very good. I think he Is standing with his head a trifle 



too high, as though he were startled by some sudden noise, 
or had seen something new that he was looking after. That 
makes his wing too straight up and down. Tail very good, 
but if the second sickles had been a little higher, also the 
tail coverts run up a little more, so as to cover up the main 
tail feathers a little more, it would have suited me better. 
The wattles are too long and not full enough. (I know the 
standard says they shall be 'long, thin, pendulous.') The 
comb I will not comment on, as I am a Rose Comb breeder. 
Thighs good. Legs or shanks too short; middle toe too long 
for the leg. The eye does not show up just right, but think 
the printer more to blame than the artist. Body looks short, 
but it is the way he stands; as I said before, he stands too 
erect, and that shortens his body." 



James QuroUo, Missouri, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "I think the Leghorn male quite a fine looking 
fellow, but for an ideal I should prefer the comb to be more 
rounding in front and not quite so full over the beak. Wat- 
tles should be a trifle shorter. Breast not full enough. 
Wings should be a trifle longer." 



P. B. Macomber, Michigan, breeder of Single Comi) 
Brown Leghorns: "I have only a few criticisms to 
make. The neck is too fuil at back; ought to be more taper- 
ing for a Leghorn. Back of wing carried too low down. The 
lower feathers of tail, in my opinion, are carried too low. I 
think they should be carried at more of an angle with the 
body, thus giving the tail a little higher carriage. Other 
than these defects it is my style of Leghorn. Mr. Sewell has 
done himself much credit in producing such a fine cut of a 
Leghorn male. It is the best all around cut I ever saw." 



R. W. E. Milliken, Massachusetts, breeder of Single 
Comb White and Brown Leghorns: "The engraving por- 
trays my ideal as near as possible on paper, and any breeder 
who can get a good percentage of cockerels similar in shape 
to this one would be, in my mind, a mighty good man to buy 
stock of." 



D. N. Futrell, Kentucky, breeder of Buff and Single 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "I consider this a very fair cut of a 
high pointer. If I could breed .50 per cent as good in shape 
would think I was doing extra well." 



Ed B. .Murphy, Indiana, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "I would find but little fault with the cut 
of Brown Leghorn male. His comb is a little too high for 
the length of it; also fits down a little too close to back of 
head. Wattles a little too long; tail carried about right. 
Otherwise about right." 



A. C. Keyser, Pennsylvania, breeder of Single Comb 
and Rose Comb White, Buff and Dominique Leghorns: "The 
proof of the ideal Brown Leghorn male is excellent. It suits 
me." 



Standard Poultry Co., Missouri, breeders of Single 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "The only defect, in our opinion, 
is his comb, which extends most too far over beak and is too 
straight in front. We think comb should slope gracefully 
back and center spikes be directly over the eye; cut shows 
three of the five spikes in front of eyes. Other than the 
above, the cut is above criticism in our judgment, and Mr. 
Sewell is entitled to congratulations for his splendid work." 



Ionia Poultry Club, Michigan, breeders of Leghorns: 
"We think the comb should be cut down a little. It is too 
high. Arch of neck is a triflle too great. The breast outline 
sh.ould begin farther back, just under the wattles, and the 



THE LEGHORNS. 



17 



breast should be fuller and more prominent. Back, a con- 
cave sweep; tail carried higher; legs longer; thighs not quite 
so prominent. We think the cut a little too much on the 
Minorca order." 



Kunze & Luhman, Illinois, breeders of Single Comb 
Brown Leghomfs: "The cut is splendid and we cannot see 
where it could be improved. For an ideal it suits us first 
rate. The Reliable and Mr. Sewell are doing an inestimable 
service for the poultry fraternity." 

Smith Hodsall, Illinois, breeder of Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "Referring to the drawing of Brown Leghorn 
cock by Sewell, it strikes me as being all right in every 
section except the head, which is a little too small, not 
quite deep enough for the length. Head and neck set most 
too far back, making breast too full, too high up. It will, in 
my opinion, affords a good outline to go by for typical shape 
if a little width be added to the face." 



C. J. Oldfield, Michigan, breeder of Single Comb 
White, Buff and Black Leghorns: "I consider the cut the 



best, in shape, of any cut I ever saw, but for an ideal cut 
I consider the leg a trifle short and shanks rather too heavy. 
The comb is fine, but is just a trifle large, and first point is 
too far forward, giving the comb too square an appearance 
in front." 



M. Mayer, Jr., Illinois, breeder of Buff and Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "If the legs were a little longer this cut 
would come nearer to my ideal of a male Leghorn than I 
have ever seen on paper or in the show room." 



H. A. Kuhns, Georgia, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "This cut is so near my ideal that I will not 
undertake to criticise it." 



T. D. Hunt, Tennessee, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "The cut of Brown Leghorn is beyond my crit- 
icism. It is simply superb." 



Ed Hoffman, Ohio, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I thitk 
it an excellent cut of a Leghorn male, with a few excep- 
tions. Neck is too much arched, breast a trifle flat, and I 
would prefer to see the wing carried more horizontally." 




F RST PR It PUUtT 
^ V '^ 'T,. i ^ W£iT NEWTON .nfl53 

First Prize S. C. Brown Leghorn CocA and Pullet at Boston, 1899; Bred and Owned by Tenney & Harriagtoa, 




BVTMr 

RUlftBUE POULTRY JO\/RKAl 



LtGNORIS rEMALE SHAPE— BY SEWELL. 



Comprising the Best Points of Several Live Models, as illustrated by Franklaae L. Sewell for the Reliable Poultry Journal, and 
Submitted to Fifty-five Prominent Judges and Breeders for Criticism Based Upon Standard Requirements. 



LEGHORN FEMALE SHAPE. 



Criticisms of Foremost Judges and Leghorn Breeders on a "Composite Ideal from Live Models," as Drawn by 

Franklane L. Sewell—A Collection of Opinions That Are In Themselves Authority 

on the Ideal Shape of a Standard-bred Leghorn. 



From Ihe Reliable Poultry Journal. 



OWING to the fact that we were obliged to submit 
the proofs of the ideal male and female Leghorn 
drawings to the judges and breeders at different 
times, we were unable, from various causes, to 
reach as many with the female drawing as we did with that 
of the male, still we are able to present the comments of 
fifty-flve well-known judges and breeders. We are highly 
pleased with the interest manifested in these ideal drawings 
and in common with many of our readers we feel they will 
be productive of much good to breeders. 



I. K. Felch, judge and breeder; "The Leghorn pullet 
cut is before me. It is nearer nature than any yet offered. 
My criticisms are, too long from hip to tail; it lacks the last 
lower feather in tail; too full In upper breast and fluff prop- 
er; not full enough in upper or tail fluff, and it wants filling 
in just in front of tiiigh to give a concave line to body from 
forward point of keel to thighs. I should shorten tlie body 
of the bird about a quarter of an inch in front of the tail, 
thus bringing the tail nearer the body. With these altera- 
tions I should not cut the bird for shape if judging her." 



H. S. Babcock, Rhode Island, judge and biweder: 
"Mr. Sewell's cut of Leghorn female is, in many respects, 
admirable. The suggestions I can offer are that the tail 
does not seem to be set on right. The back is too long, body 
and fluff a bit heavy, just only a trifle, and shanks not long 
enough. The defects seem to me to he slight, and I would 
not object to having a hundred birds of exactly this type, 
all a rich, pure buff." 



P. H. Shellabarger, Iowa, judge and breeder: "The cut 
of female Leghorn is, in my judgment, faulty in the follow- 
ing sections: First, the comb falls too low along the side 
of the head, indicating that if placed in an upright posi- 
tion it would be a trifle large. Second, the back, in my 
way of looking at it, appears to be a little more than 
'medium length' and more than 'slightly cushioned.' Third, 
the tail coverts are all short as to length except those two 
falling onto the deck or highest main tail feathers. This 
causes the main tail feathers to look a trifle long at the sides 
from where the coverts stop. Fourth, the wings as shown 
do not show the secondaries, but show the coverts from the 
front edge to the tip. This does not cause any difference 
except that it does not show how the secondaries should 
look compared with the balance of the wing." 



Theo. Hewes, Indiana, judge and breeder: "Mr. 
Sewe'l has given us a very nice cut this time; in fact, I think 
it is above the average. The only place I find any fault with 
the female on shape is, the legs are a trifle too short, and 
body and tail a trifle too long." 



exception of too great length in back) are perfectly drawn. 
In general appearance she lacks alertness. With the head 
and tail carried higher she would be more in harmony with 
the drawing presented of the male, and she would then har- 
monize with the best specimens shown throughout the west 
in late years." 

C. A. Emry, Missouri, judge and breeder: "The illus- 
tration of ideal Leghorn female meets my idea of standard 
description." 



Charles McClave, Ohio, judge and breeder: "Symmeiry 
and general outlines almost faultless. Head good; how- 
ever, a trifle heavy or coarse for Leghorn females. Comb 
very good, except points incline to curve backward, in- 
stead of being straight. Ear-lobes and wattles good, but 
lobe might be a trifle larger. Neck, length and shape fault- 
less. Back, shape good, except too much concave sweep from 
center to base of tail. Breast, shape good, but plenty full. 
Wings good. Tail shape fair, but a trifle too narrow and 
too high. Legs good; however, if a trifle longer would suit 
me better. Toes good, but pretty long, considering length of 
shank. Taken all together, I consider this the best Leghorn 
cut ever produced. My understanding is that shape alone is 
under consideration." 



W. S. Russell, Iowa, judge and breeder: "Back a trifle 
long, entirely too much cushion; tail carried the least bit 
low, and it would appear too long if cushion on back was 
trimmed. Some may find fault with shanks being too large 
and short, but I do not consider them sufficiently defective 
to cut." 



D. T. Heimlich, Illinois, judge and breeder: "This 
is a beautiful picture, and the different sections (with the 



Frank W. Breed, California, judge and breeder: "As a 
cut the illustration is a success. Yet it hardly represents 
the ideal Leghorn female. In the first place the outline pic- 
tures a female of a quiet, subdued disposition, a bird that 
will always answer the meal call and between times recline 
in the shade to the detriment of herself and keeper, whereas, 
the true Leghorn female is all life and activity, her every 
move and poise being performed with such grace and clean- 
ness of motion, as she stands erect or glides from place to 
place, that she seems to flit from point to point with the rap- 
idity and stillness of a breath. Not one of those nervous, 
coil spring affairs, that from the rustling of a leaf or the 
doffing of a hat betake themselves to an adjacent county, 
but, instead, one of those lithe, active birds that can hardly 
spare the time from foraging to eat the daily allowance, but 
comes in and greedily bolts down a portion and is away to 
some secluded haunt from which her voice comes throughout 
the day as she busily unearths the bug or slug. Such hens 
lay and keep it up. In individual sections, her comb is too 
weak at base, allowing it to droop rather than fall gracefully 
back and downward. Back is too low at shoulders and too 
straight from shoulders to tail, which suggests the Lang- 
shan sweep more than the concave outline of the Leghorn. 
Tail is carried at about the right slant, but too high. Fluff is 




Uw.. ..»; .-..-Via JOVRNAU 



STANDARD LEGHORN FEMALE SHAPE. 



An Ideal Leghorn, Illustrated by Franklane L. Sewell, for the Reliable Poultry Journal, under the Suoaestions of Filtylive Prominent 
Judges and Breeders— The Outcome of Criticism Upon the Leghorn Female Shape Shown on Pcge 18. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



21 



too heavy and loose in feathering. Thighs do not show 
enough length and are too much concealed by profuse feath- 
ering of body. Breast is a trifle deep. Shanks are of nice 
length, but a little coarse. As a whole the illustration is 
too loose in feathering, which takes away that trim, spright- 
ly look characteristic of the variety." 



George 0. Brown, Maryland, judge and breeder and ex- 
president of the American Poultry Association: "The comb 
has a wrong fold in it at the high point front, where it turns 
over, for an ideal. The hen appears a trifle too long on the 
back, the tail being too much like the Game, too narrow, 
giving a pinched look at the base. There is a trifle too much 
fluff, a little too much bulge on upper breast; legs too stout 
for the size of cut, and just a bit too squatty. While one can 
discern there is a lack of perfection in a cut, it takes an 
artist to do the reconstruction — and I am not an artist." 



George W. Osterhout, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "At first glance Mr. Sewell's ideal cut 
of ?. Leghorn female would seem perfect, but if compared 
with a well-furnished live specimen I find too much cushion 
at base of tail, and the tail coverts run up too high according 
to the length of the main tail feathers. The tail, in a live 
specimen, rises from the cushion with almost an obtuse 
angle, and the first main tail feathers should not be quite as 
convex as shown in cut. I find also that a female standing 
in the position of the one in the cut carries her shoulders 
higher than the cushion; this would give a longer look to 
the leg, and I find that as we lengthen the legs of the Leg- 
horns it throws the shoulders higher. But I am ready to ac- 
cept what the majority of the breeders think the nearest to 
a perfect shape, and I will try and breed to it, even if not 
just my own ideal, but I do not want to see an ideal of either 
male or female that is not somewhere near the shape of the 
best specimens of either sex." 



Ezra Cornell, New York, breeder of Sngle Comb White 
and Buff Leghorns: "The cut is, in most respects, very sat- 
isfactory; the only criticism I have to offer is in the shape 
of the back, which I would lower slightly on saddle at base 
of tail. This change would make it necessary to fill in a 
trifle on lower edge of tail, where it joins the body. With 
the slight change which I have mentioned, the cut is, to me, 
eniirely satisfactory." 



T. E. Sherman, New York, breeder of Buff Leghorns: 
"I see but very little to criticise about the female Leghorn 
cut. If the legs were just a trifle longer, also the neck the 
least bit longer, and the tail a little fuller at back end on 
top, it would look better to me." 



William Ellery Bright, Massachusetts, breeder of Sin- 
gle Comb Brown Leghorns: "The cut of the Leghorn female 
which you have submitted is, in my judgment, as good as the 
male cut was poor. There is certainly a great improvement 
in catching the Leghorn style. It is, indeed, strange that 
one artist could draw two ideals, even though one be a male 
and the other a female, of the same variety with such vastly 
different characteristics. This representation of the ideal 
female is marked by the absence of that terrible pitch to the 
keel bone, the shapely sloping back and the bunchy thighs 
that were such prominent features in the ideal male cut. 
The wing is also well pictured. With the shape of the wing, 
body, breast and legs, very little, if any, fault can be found. 
The shanks and thighs show the slender build of the true 
Leghorn. The neck calls for a very slight criticism in that 
the feathers are brought down too far on the shoulders, 
which gives the base of the neck too thick an appearance. 



The breast is well rounded and full, such as I like to see. 
The wattles do not seem to be heavy enough for the comb 
and should be the least bit wider. The idea of a perfectly 
hanging comb is. without doubt, impossible to convey by any 
one drawing. This one is a very nice piece of work. How- 
ever, it does extend too far forward on the beak. The above 
(Miticisms are of minor importance. The leading points of a 
good Leghorn female are nicely brought out. The hardest 
criticism must be made on the tail. This is not heavy enough 
for the bird. There is an unnatural curve in the two upper 
main tail feathers and the lower feathers are not of suffi- 
cient length to give something of that square top that is so 
much sought. Altogethei-, this ideal is worthy of much study 
by breeders and judges, and it is to be hoped that the breed- 
ers of other varieties will succeed in obtaining as meritor- 
ious an ideal as this latest study of Mr. Sewell's." 



George G. Wheat, Kansas, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns; "This ideal female Leghorn suits me too 
well to admit of any criticism." 



S. S. Noble, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "The only serious fault I find with Mr. Sewell's 
ideal Leghorn female is with the tail. Where the tail feath- 
ers start he has quite a bend. If the angle of the back con- 
tinued without a short bend at this point it would be better. 
It also projects out too far above the cushion. Trim it there, 
straighten it, also the tail coverts. Add one-eighth of an 
inch to the legs and she will suit me better." 



George H. Burgott, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "I will say, referring to shape of the 
ideal female Leghorn, that while the work is exquisite, there 
are faulty points. Comb extends over upon the beak too 
much and is a trifle too high, measuring from where it con- 
nects on 10 the beak to the single point in front that stands 
erect. It should have one more serration to suit me and it 
is faulty, the same as the male, in size of serrations, which 
are too thick and are not deep enough, making the comb 
have a beefy appearance. Comb also lops too flat, i. e., in 
the cut it does not have the appearance of a standard Leg- 
horn comb; tne points should not reach down far enough 
to cover the lobe for an ideal. Size of comb about right. 
Head is faulty, beak too thick and straight, eye not life-like 
and set too far back. I think wattle and lobe about O. K. 
Neck a trifle Loo thick. I would say that the whole portion 
of the bird in trout of a line drawn perpendicularly across 
the body beginning at the shank should be more elevated. 
The bird, as she is now, has a frightened appearance, but if 
this were done it would of course altogether change the out- 
lines, raising that portion in front (head and all) and slight- 
ly dropping the back portions, but as it is now the back is 
too high and breast too low. Tail about right, thighs too 
thick and short, shanks too thick and about one-eighth inch 
too long, toes all too long — middle toes are nearly as long as 
the shanks. However, after all is said, I consider this as 
fine a piece of work as I have ever seen and it deserves com- 
mendation." 



W. W. Kulp, Pennsylvania, breeder of Single and Rose 
Comb Brown Leghorns: "I consider the cut of the hen bet- 
ter than the cut of cock. A living bird as good in every sec- 
tion is a rarity and prized very highly. Sewell is a blessing 
to the poultry loving public. The bird stands a bit low in 
head. The neck is short, either caused by the position or 
intended so by the artist. The legs might be lengthened with 
profit to beauty. I would prefer not quite so much rise in 
the back. I think there is more rise in the cut than the 
standard demands; in fact, it gives no rise at all; 'slightly 
cushioned' is all that is said about shape of back, besides 



22 



THE LEGHORNS. 



'medium length.' Longer legs, longer neck, tail and cushion 
lowered a bit is my ideal from the standard. Comb would 
do if a bit less also." 



H. C. Young, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "In regard to this cut, I think the comb laps 
too much; points should curve upward more, so as to not 
obstruct the sight. First point is not distinct enough and 
is too far forward. Back is a little too flat, tail carried 
too far back. Lower part of breast too full and not curved 
enough, but on the whole I think the drawing a very clever 
one and it does much credit to the prettily shaped Leghorn 
hen." 



C. E. Howell, New York, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "The ideal cut of the Leghorn female suits me 
very well. I have no suggestions to offer as to any correc- 
tions." 



C. H. Wyckoff. New York, breeder of Single Comb 
White Leghorns: "The proof of the drawing of an ideal 
female Leghorn by Mr. Sewell is at hand, and I am very fa- 
vorably impressed by it. About the only change, it any, 
that I eouid suggest would be a trifle more length of body, 
and a coi-responding increase in length of neck. And yet, 
for a fully matured bird, say two years old, and in good, 
plump condition, I am not sure that the changes suggested 
would be any improvement." 



E. H. Hoffman, Wisconsin, breeder of Single Comb 
White Leghorns: "I think the cut of the Leghorn female is 
a little too clumsy. It does not give credit to the stylish ap- 
pearance of this variety. I think by taking a little off of the 
lower part of the breast and also off of the fluff it would give 
the body a more graceful appearance. The shanks of the 
legs are too short. These two changes would make a well 
stationed bird. The neck is also a trifle too thick to suit me. 
The comb is fair, but would look better if it did not lop quite 
so far over the eye. The shape of the tail is all right •• 



Oliver L. Dosch, Ohio, breeder of Single Comb v.hite 
Leghorns "To my mind Mr. Sewell's Leghorn pullet is 
not deep enough in body just in front of thighs. Thighs 
themselves are too heavy and not quite long enough. The 
tail seems to be set too far from the body and the upper 
feathers are curved too much. No rudimentary sickle in a 
Leghorn pullet's tail for us, if you please. If the tail was 
carried a little more upright it would fulflU the standard re- 
quirements and not appear to be carried so far from the 
body. The comb is too narrow at the rear. Back and neck 
good. Breast would be good if it was a little deeper. Ear- 
lobe is too large." 



George H. Gallinger, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "In studying the proof of the female 
Leghorn cut you sent me, I find it about right in shape and 
dimensions. If she were a live hen and I could handle her 
there might be a great deal more to criticise." 



Charles C. Ferris, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "The Leghorn female cut would undoubt- 
edly score 100 points by many if she wei*e in the flesh. We 
all have our own ideals. I give my ideas of this cut not as 
criticisms, but as suggestions to improvement, as I view it. 
As in the male, this comb is too wide from head to bottom of 
serrations, also extends too far forward. Such combs are 
often thumb-marked and wrinkled, and also apt to form a 
loop in front like a Minorca's. Head should be carried 
farther back, giving more arch to the neck. Wing front 



should be covered by breast feathers, and upper part should 
be more hidden by back feathers. In nicely penciled birds it 
is difficult to see where wing and back meet. Tail should be 
longer and wider; it looks too 'pinched up.' Cut off the fluff 
three-eighths of an inch at lowest point. Many birds are 
cut for short legs when the fault is with the fluff, it being 
too loosely feathered; or birds being over fat the fluff falls 
too low. Thigh should be smaller. To me this bird looks 
too short and heavy for an ideal Leghorn female." 



Mrs. B. G. Mackey, Missouri, breeder of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "The beak in the model is larger and 
thicker than I find them on live birds, and than I have sup- 
posed standard. The comb is also larger than I understand 
the standard to require. I know there is a tendency to 
large combs with the fanciers, but for greatest utility I 
doubt the largest combs being best. The neck is rather thick, 
the back too high at base of tail, the wings are carried too 
low, fluff not full enough to give sufficient broadness." 



J. A. Weerts, Illinois, breeder of Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "The Leghorn cut lies before me. I have had it 
down to the Leghorn pen and compared it with my 'best' and 
I fail to see anything to criticise. I think she is much better 
than the male. I may be called a novice with poultry, but I 
have a few very good birds and I am anxious to learn all I 
can. These drawings, with the opinions of those who are 
competent to judge of them, are of more value to us little 
beginners than whole volumes of descriptions, and I am 
looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to the coming 
articles." 



William F. Brace (of Brace & Walling), New York, 
breeder of Single Comb Brown and Buff Leghorns: "My 
criticisms on the female Leghorn cut are few. If the tail 
were cut off and set. forward on the bird a quarter of an 
inch it would improve her, I think, by bringing the tail and 
rear portions of the body near the bird. A few more feath- 
ers would then have to be added to the lower part of the 
tail. There is too much fluff, and the middle toes are too 
long. Otherwise the cut is good." 



L. P. Harris, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I find by a 
close study of the cut of Leghorn hen that the body and 
back appear too long, but if the neck is filled in or made 
wider at a point one-half inch above the junction of hackle 
and back to the extent of three thirty-seconds of an inch 
and tapering each way to a point at the base of hackle and 
at a point where the concave and convex line of the neck 
meet, that it would altogether change the long appearance 
of the back and body, making them appear much shorter. 
The tail coverts appear much too wide; the comb is much 
too large and beefy; wattles also too large, but taking it al- 
together it is a fine illustrations of a Leghorn female." 



August D. Arnold, Pennsylvania, breeder of Buff Leg- 
horns and ex-president of Buff Leghorn Club: "As regards 
cut of female Leghorn, I will say the comb shows a little too 
high from bill to curve. Neck Is too short and heavy. Fluff 
is too full. Otherwise it suits me all right." 



John Torrey, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
and Buff Leghorns: "Comb should have flve points; it 
shows only four; neck a trifle heavy; back too long; tail 
carried too high; breast too full; body too deep; fluff good; 
legs are too heavy and toes are too long; otherwise the cut 
suits me." 



James McCann, Jr., New York, breeder of Single Comb 



THE LEGHORNS. 



23 



White Leghorns: "This is a grand cut of a Leghorn fe- 
male. I have no criticisms to make. Mr. Sewell is to be 
congratulated on his excellent work." 



W. C. Hunter, Missouri, breeder of Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "Comb could be smaller with good effect. Breast 
is somewhat too full. Back shows too much of a curve from 
base of neck to tail, making the bird too long and devoid of 
that sharp concave of the back of the Leghorn. The wings 
hang slightly too low. The toes are too large, the middle 
one being out of proportion. All in all the cut comes very 
near being my ideal." 



George W. Brown, Arkansas, breeder of White and 
Brown Leghorns: "The cut of Leghorn female has been 
carefully noted, and we can find but one objection. The 
comb extends a shade too far on the beak and the first spike 
should be a little more curved. Otherwise we consider the 
drawing a masterpiece and congratulate the artist upon his 
skill. In the well-poised head and graceful curves forming 
back, breast, tail, etc., we behold a model of beauty, grace 
and symmetry that completely fills our ideal." 



W. T. Naylor, Ohio, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I con- 
sider the drawing of ideal female Leghorn by Mr. Sewell 
a very perfect illustration and I cannot see where the most 
exacting fancier can find any defects. I must say the proof 
is the nearest perfection in my estimation of any I have 
ever seen." 



John H. Ryan, Illinois, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
I-eghorns: "After carefully looking over the ideal Leg- 
horn female drawing I have no comments to make other 
than that it is exactly my idea of what a Leghorn hen should 
be." 



W. A. Irvin, Nebraska, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
I^eghorns: "It would be difficult for me to offer any im- 
provement on the ideal female Leghorn drawing. If we 
breeders could breed them as good I should consider they 
lacked but little of being standard shape." 



. R. A. Maples, Iowa, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "I should 
pronounce this cut very near perfect, according to my un- 
derstanding of the standard, with the possible exception 
that the back is a trifle long, tail carried too low, comb and 
wattles too large, toes too long in proportion to length of 
shanks. But all in all it comes pretty close to standard re- 
quirements." 

George J. Nissly, Michigan, breeder of Buff and Brown 
Leghorns: "The cut is not my ideal of a perfect Leghorn, 
though it is sometimes hard to put in words our views of 
defects. Beginning at the head, I think the comb droops a 
little too much over the eye. The pupil of the eye should 
show under the comb, not between the spikes. The neck 
should be a little more upright. Back too long and too much 
cushion. Tail too heavy and not sufficiently upright. The 
tail should be on a level with the eye when the bird stands 
erect. Wings rather small. Legs too short and heavy." 



Walter R. Hibberd, Pennsylvania, breeder of Buff Leg- 
horns' "I have received a proof of the cut of the ideal fe- 
male Leghorn, and it suits me so well I will not attempt to 
criticise it." 



O. E. Skinner, Kansas, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "I am not disposed to criticise this drawing 
evry much, as it about meets my full approval. Would sug- 



gest a trifle longer shanks and thighs, a little less droop to 
the comb, and tail carried more up right. The standard calls 
for tail to be 'carried upright' on S. C. Brown Leghorn, oth- 
erwise it strikes me as being all right." 



H. E. Benedict, New York, breeder of Rcjse Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "I think Mr. Sewell's ideal cut of Leghorn pul- 
let one of the best I ever saw. The outline is good. The 
wing is not folded up quite close enough under the breast 
and body feathers, but that does not hurt her shape. She 
is good." 



.lames Qurolio, Missouri, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "The proof of the female Leghorn, we think, 
is excellent, and we do not find much fault, except with 
the tail and legs. We think the tai Itoo short and bunty, 
the lower feathers, especially, should be longer, and the 
tail should have more of a square effect; it is too pointed 
and too narrow at base. One more feather in the lower part 
of the tail would add to her looks. We think a well-spread 
tail adds much to the beauty of a Leghorn female. Cushion 
is just a trifle too full, and the legs are too short for this 
size bird." 



Standard Poultry Co., Missouri, breeders of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "Cut of Leghorn hen received, and 
while it is a beauty, in our opinion if the thigh were a little 
longer it would add to its beauty, making it appear larger 
and more stylish. We do not admire duck legs on any- 
thing but duck?, and we find so many of tbe Leghorns now 
are smaller than they should be, and inclined to be duck 
legged." 



A. C. Keyser, Pennsylvania, breeder of Single Comb 
and Rose Comb White, Brown and Dominique Leghorns: 
"The proof of the Leghorn female is very good. It suits 
my ideas." 



Kunze & Luhman, Illinois, breeders of Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "We make the following comments on 
the ideal female Leghorn drawing: She is a fine bird to 
just take a glance at her, but upon closer inspection we 
think these corrections should be made. The head is too 
long, the back is much too long, the tail slants too far back, 
the fluff is also too full, the thighs are too stout and the 
shanks are too strong. In other sections she suits us first 
rate." 



Ionia Poultry Club, Michigan, breeders of Leghorns: 
"The comb is a little too high in front and covers the bill a 
little loo far forward. Shape good except I wouid like to see 
head thrown back a little, raising the front half of the bird. 
This would give a little fuller breast and longer neck, or, 
commonly speaking, a little prouder appearance. Other than 
this we think the cut good." 



M. Mayer, Jr., Illinois, breeder of Buff and Single Comb 
Brown Leghorns: "This cut comes so near to my ideal of 
a female Leghorn that I cannot find anything to criticise 
about it." 



J. D. Hunt, Tennessee, breeder of Single Comb Brown 
Leghorns: "I think the female ideal Leghorn is as near 
perfection as an ideal could be, and I certainly endorse the 
arti.st as well as the Journal in their efforts to better inform 
the public." 



William A. Penfield, New York, breeder of Single Comb 
White Leghorns: "The cut of female Leghorn is extra 
good as a whole, but it is not my ideal in some minor points. 



24 



THE LEGHORNS. 



Comb sets too far forward, tail has the appearance of be- 
ing short, caused by two last coverts being too long, I think. 
Tail should be carried a trifle higher. This, with more 
length of leg, would give that jaunty carriage characteris- 
tic of the Leghorn family." 



Ed Hoffman, Ohio, breeder of Buff Leghorns: "We 
have very little fault to find with cut of Leghorn female. 
Tail is slightly pinched at base and legs a little short for 
size of bird." 



A. P. Groves, Pennsylvania, breeder of Buff Leghorns: 
"I see no fault in it whatever except that its comb might 
be a little lower in front." 



0. W. Bemaa, New York, breeder of Buff Leghorns: 
"The cut of Leghorn female is very good in general, and 
changes I sliould suggest would be largely a personal prefer- 
ence. I would like smaller and more rounded wattles, and 



the front of comb turned over a trifle more in front and not 
showing the point. The back should be a very little higher, 
giving the body a more bloeky appearance. Tail should 
spread more and be carried higher. These alterations are 
suggested with the idea in mind of making the cut an ideal 
one for breeders to use in breeding and selecting for exhibi- 
tions, and these comments arc made with reference to Buff 
Leghorns only." 



George H. Bie, Wisconsin, breeder of Single Comb 
White and Brown Leghorns: "The only fault I find with 
the bird is that the comb is carried too far forward. Such 
combs are apt to fail in wrinkles over the beak. Otherwise 
I consider it the finest model I ever saw, and I would not 
change it in any way." 



Rowe & Broughton, New York, breeders of Buff Leg- 
horns: "The cut of the female Leghorn is way ahead of 
the male cut, and If there is any criticism to make it would 
be very slight as compared with the male." 




A Winner from the Yards of James Forsyth. 



STANDARD-BRED LEGHORNS. 



An Instructive Article Upon the Standard Law In Its Relation to Leghorns, by One of Our Most Prominent Judges, 

Who, Aided by the Well Known Artist, Franklane L. Sewell, Illustrates the Application 

of the Score Card System of Judging. 



By Theo. Hewes, Judge and Breeder. 



THERE are a number oZ books on some of our popular 
breeds, but the Leghorns have not been given the 
prominenre they deserve, especially by American 
writers. While the breed is perhaps as well known 
in this country as any in the standard, it is known more 
as an egg producer than from a fancy, or standard point of 
view. I can remember, when a mere boy, stories told of their 
laying qualities caused me to build great air castles (egg 
castles), representing what I would do if I could only secure 
a few of them. It cost money to secure the very poorest of 
them then, and the best at that time would be very poor as 
we view them to-day; dollars, too, at that time of my life 
looked bigger than the full moon, and two of them were al- 
ways farther apart, so far as my possessing them was con- 
cerned. However, the longer one waits for something, the 
more valuable it becomes in his estimation, so when I did 
finally come into possession of a few Leghorns, I imagined I 
was just about at the top of the profession. I can remember 
that trio well. They were fine indeed. Red Leghorns was the 
name given me by the person who sold them, and they fitted 
their name to a nicety. The cockerel had a comb about the 
size of a round of cheap beef. He had a long, flowing tail, 
carried very much to one side. His body was set on a pair 
of very short legs, and his long tail and large comb gave him 
a strong resemblance to the roosters the democrats wore in 
their hats just after Mr. Cleveland's second election. 

In color he had what we would term to-day a faded-out 
look. His hackle and saddle feathers were red. without a 
trace of stripe. His sickles and flights were as much white 
as black, and his breast was the color of a brown thrush. 
Th" fluff faded off red, shading into a lighter color behind. 
The females were somewhat better. Aside from white in 
wings and a few gray tips in tail they would pass to-day as 
scrub Leghorns of the Brown variety. 

With this trio to start with, breeders can see that my 
prospects for high honors in close competition were "dead 
easy." i became so much interested in these world-beaters 
that I could think or talk of little else. Finally, some one 
who had heard of one or two other breeds suggested that I 
invest in a standard and Ic-arn more. T did so, and began 
comparing my birds with the standard description of Brown 
Loghnrns, and I could find no Red Leghorns in the book. I 
found by a close study of this work that the standard mak- 
ers had made a serious mistake. That book did not near fit 
my birds, and of course I knew my birds were right, for the 
breeder who sold them to me had told rae they were! About 
this time a Mr. Todd, of Ohio, sent me a circular, and it 
dawned on me that my Leghorns were not quite "up to 
snuff." so I concluded to purchase a few more. The price 
asked by Mr. Todd turned me around twice before I could 
alight, but finally I settled down to earth and sent him the 
money, Th'^ birds came, and they were Brown Leghorns 
in all the name implies. They were grand in shape, color, 
comb and lobes. In looking back now over these many 
years, and comparing that trio with the show specimens to 



which I have awarded prizes in the large shows, I cannot re- 
call three better birds. Let it be said to Mr. Todd's credit 
that it is doubtful if at that time any fancier surpassed him 
in the breeding of this famous variety. 

If Mr. Todd could breed such birds, how did he do it, and 
why could I not breed them as well as he? To do so meant 
study. I must take the standard as a law and study nature 
as a model. I believe in the eight years that I bred the 
Single and Rose Comb varieties, no man in America ever 
gave them closer attention or studied harder to find out what 
an ideal bird should be, not alone of the Brown varieties, 
but of all the varieties of the Leghorns, and I would as 
soon judge this class now in a big show as any breed in the 
standard. Leghorns are shy, and usually wild, but they are 
alert, active, always on the lookout, and as a commercial 
fowl for egg production they stand at the head of the line 
and can be depended upon to take their share of the mort- 
gage off the farm. 

The White and Brown Leghorns were about the only 
ones heard of at the lime of which I write, but the sub-vari- 
eties were known to a few. The average breeder had sel- 
dom heard of them, and few if any had seen them. Of the 
new varieties added since then, the Buffs are to-day perhaps 
the best known, and in some respects are the superior of 
the others. Especially is this true in size. 

JUDICIOUS mBREEDISG— MATURE MALES. 

My own experience in breeding the Leghorn, and in fact 
all other breeds, has convinced me that the only road to suc- 
cess is by way of judicious inbreeding. I have followed it 
to a certain extent in all varieties, and in looking back now 
over the best specimens that I have ever produced, in each 
and every instance the stock that produced them was closely 
related. 

Another very important point in breeding is this: Se- 
lect males to head your pens that are at least eighteen 
months old. Many good birds are produced by breeding 
from cockerels, but you take a chance every time one heads 
your pens. I will ask the breeders to look over their own 
flocks and see which male produced their best chicks last 
year. It does not matter what variety — this rule will fit 
them all. If any one bird produced better stock than the 
other, is it not a fact that this same male molted out in bet- 
ter shape than any other male in your yards? That is why 
I emphasize. "Head your breeding pens with males at least 
eighteen months old." I will give a few plain instructions 
that I believe will help every amateur to improve his breed- 
ing stock. It does not matter what variety of chickens he 
may be breeding, the results will be the same. 

Select about five or six of your best females from this 
year's mating, turning them out of yo\ir breeding pens not 
later than June 1.5. Let them have unlimited range and be 
sure that no male is with them. At the same time that you 
liberate them give your best male bird the run of the pen 
they were in, and see to it that no females are with him. 
About .July 20 mate these birds again, and from August 1 to 




RELlflBlf PoVLTRYJoVRNflL- 



C^'^^ 



^^ 



LEGHORN, ^M ALE S TUD Y. 

CHART No. I. 

Designed by Franhlane L. Sewell Expressly for this Article to Illustrate the Application of the Standard of Perfection. 
The Distribution of Color In all Sections of the Body Is here Portrayed, and 
the Shape of a Let/horn Male Outlined. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



27 



lOth set all the eggs they will lay. This will give you a 
hatch about September 1, and just as soon as you can, select 
the pullets from the cockerels. Kill the pullets or separate 
them, and allow the hen that hatches the chicks to run with 
the cockerels just as long as she will, which usually, at this 
season of the year, will be late in winter. Give the cock- 
erels careful attention and the warmest house you have, and 
see to it that they are never in the company of a female dur- 
ing the first season. 

These birds will molt about August 1 the following year, 
and if they molt good you can count on their being good 
breeders. If they molt bad, discard them at once. Keep 
these birds until February, or until they are eighteen months 
old, and keep them entirely away from the females until you 
are ready to use them in your breeding pens. Then you have 
strong, vigorous males that are away above standard weight, 
that are molted as cocks, yet show more like cockerels, birds 
that you can depend on as breeders of show birds. 

The reason I suggest that you keep these birds past the 
molt is this: The best bird you have this year may molt 
into a scrub as a cock, and if he does, you can depend on it 
that he has not produced you a bird of any consequence, un- 
less it be strictly in the form of a sport, taking all the good 
points from the dam rather than the sire; but if he molts 
well as a cock, he has the blood in him not only to re- 
produce good feathers on himself, but on his offspring as 
well. If every breeder in the country will follow this eigh- 
teen-month system of mating males, my word for it his 
stock will improve in size and his yard will contain more 
prize specimens than ever before. Inbreed to eliminate de- 
fects and stamp perfection on your strain. Watch your 
fowls closely and study nature if you expect to make a suc- 
cessful poultry breeder. 

THE LEGHORN MALE. 

We will now take up the charts. I call the breeders' as- 
tention to Chart 1. We see here an outline, not alone our 
ideal, but we state frankly that we believe it is the best pro- 
file of a Leghorn ever produced by any artist, and Mr. Sewell 
is entitled to the thanks of the fanciers of the country for 
this picture. It is true Mr. Sewell worked according to some 
suggestions, but he has made it far better than I hoped for, 
and knowing as I do the desire of Leghorn breeders to im- 
prove the size of their birds without injuring their symmet- 
ry, I feel that we are showing in Chart 1 a picture that every 
fair-minded breeder of America can use as his or her ideal, 
and judges in discounting for defects can find no better chart 
from which to work. 

Chart 1 represents what you may expect in the male by 
adopting the eighteen-month system of breeding, to which I 
referred above. The distribution of color is portrayed in 
this chart, which is intended to represent perfect feathers 
called for by the standard for the Brown Leghorns, or as 
near as the same can be shown without a color plate. The 
hackle shows the stripe tapering to a point near the end 
of the feather. The black and red do not intermingle, but 
show clear and distinct. The saddle shows the same ele- 
gant color, and is the strictly fancy point in this breed, 
but one that is seldom met in the show room. By refer- 
ring to your standard you will see every feather of this 
chart just as the Ideal should be, and as we are pleased to 
note, many of our up-to-date breeders are, on the whole, 
producing them. 

We shall first take up the question of defects in the 
Brown Leghorn male, and remind the reader that the same 
shape is called for in all varieties, and whatever we may say 
here in regard to shape of the Brown will not be repeated in 
describing others, as the discounts are alike in all the 
varieties. 



SYMMETRY, OR TYPICAL CARRIAGE. 

This section came near being obsolete at the Boston 
meeting of the American Poultry Association, but was after- 
wards allowed to remain in the standard and can be used or 
ignored by the judges, as they see fit. 

Had the association gone far enough at this time to re- 
arrange the scale of points for these different systems of 
judging, it would no doubt have carried some weight with it, 
but in their haste they omitted to do this, and until it is 
done the judges who score a fowl without considering this 
section are making a farce not alone of the standard, but the 
score card as well. 

This section is valued at eight points, and the bird to be 
perfect in symmetry must not only be perfect in all sections 
that go to make up symmetry, but all these sections must be 
joined together, so that the entire outline is one symmetrical 
whole. Perfect symmetry is seldom met, but there are times 
when we meet it in this breed. I recall a White Leghorn 
cockerel that won first at the great St. Louis fair in 1897, 
that could honestly pass without a discount in this section. 
The points generally affected and those often discounted I 
will now call up and give a valuation as the judges do when 
scoring. 

Breast too full, and not showing well-rounded outline 
(see Chart 1), cut from one-half to one, as in degree. Neck 
too short and too straight— cut one-half. Feathers too short 
at base of neck, making a break where it joins on to the 
back— cut one-half. Back too long and too narrow— cut one- 
half to one. Tail carried too high— cut one-half to one and 
one-half. Tail too short— cut one-half. Legs too short or 
too close together— cut one-half to one. 

The length of leg on the Leghorn has very much to do 
with the symmetry of the breed, as a short leg does not fit 
the Leghorn in any way, and no matter how symmetrical 
they may be in other sections, it spoils them in the estima- 
tion of the up-to-date fanciers, and the value of the bird is 
hardly above that of its market value, so far as the fanciers 
themselves are concerned. 

I do not mean by this that we should have a leg under 
our Leghorns like a Black Red Game, or others in the fancy 
Game classes, but I do mean that we should have our 
bird well up off the ground so that the bird carries itself 
alert, looks active and sprightly, and is well balanced. While 
there is no doubt but the section of symmetry has been 
abused in the scoring of fowls by some judges, the same can 
be said of any other section of the standard, and when sym- 
metry is intelligently applied, there is no section in the 
standard that means as much (not alone to the breeder but 
the buyer and seller), as that one section, and a careful 
study of it by both the breeders and judges is absolutely es- 
sential to make the score card of real value to the amateur 
or professional breeder. 

SIZE. 

The section designated size is valued at ten points, and 
While there is no written description as to just what the size 
should be, it is understood by the judges that small, diminu- 
tive birds of this variety should be severely discounted, and 
in order to impress upon the minds of readers the import- 
ance of this section I wish to call special attention to chart 
No. 1, as we have tried to portray in this cut not only an 
ideal outline, but as near as we can put on paper the pro- 
portionate size of the Leghorn male. In discounting on size 
the judges should take into consideration the age of the spe- 
cimen and see to it that young or immature birds of either 
sex are not classed among the winners. When specimens of 
this kind come under their hands they should be cut from 
two to four points on size, the same as they would be dis- 
counted with a weight clause. There was a strong argument 



28 



THE LEGHORNS. 



in favor of the weight clause for the Leghorns by the revi- 
sion committee, and it is a question now whether this move 
would not have been a step in the right direction. However, 
if judges will use good judgment in discounting size, the aim 
of the association will be obtained and we will find in our 
Leghorns a well-developed, symmetrical breed. 

CONOITI0^. 

This section is valued at five points and refers to the 
health and condition of the specimens. Under this heading, 
broken plumage and filthy specimens should be severely 
punished. Nothing adds so much to the attractiveness of a 
poultry exhibition as clean exhibits; not only clean coops, 
bu; clean, well-groomed birds as well, and when exhibitors 
are careless In this direction they should be punished, and 
discounts under the head of condition is the proper place to 
make the cuts. Aside from broken plumage and careless 
cooping, defects that would come under this head would be 
unhealthy specimens, or birds that the exhibitors have care- 




A) — 



lessly allowed to run in filthy quarters until their legs have 
become scaled over by parasites. The cuts usually are, 
birds slightly out of condition, one-half point; birds showing 
signs of roup, one to one and one-half; scaly legs, one and a 
half to two, as in degree; male birds with torn combs or 
wattles caused by fighting, one-half to one. Any specimen 
so badly diseased as to endanger the lives of other specimens 
on exhibition should be disqualified and ordered out of the 
building at once. 

HEAO. 

This section is valued at four iioinls and in shape should 
be short and deep and in color a reddish bay. It is seldom 
we discount for color in this section. If we do at all it is for 
a Blight ticking of grey on the head of females, caused usu- 




ally by feathers being constantly injured by males in the 
breeding pen. For this defect the cut is one-half point, In 
shape where the head is too long, following more after the 
Game style, the cut is one-half to one, as in degree. If beak 
is too long and too straight cut one-half to one; face full of 
putfs or wrinkles, one-half to one. 

COMB. 

This section is valued at ten points, and is without doubt 
the most important section on the bird, so far as fancy 
points are concerned. It has 
no commercial value. I pre- 
sume you could not sell 
100 pounds of them for twen- 
ty cents, but a bird without a 
comb and without a good one, 
too, would not be worth ten 
cents a dozen to the fancy 
breeder. We refer our read- 
ers to Chart 1 and to the il- 
lustration, "A Symmetrical 
Head," and ask them to study 
the combs carefully. Here 
you will find combs that fill 
the standard requirements, 
combs that are symmetrical 
and in harmony with the 
birds they adorn. Such combs 
would pass without a cut, and 
would, if properly mated, stamp themselves on the pro- 
geny. The sketch, "A Symmetrical Head," is made from 
the cockerel that was considered by the leading eastern 
breeders to possess the best type of the Leghorn head at 
the last Boston show. Mr. Sewell has this to say regarding 
it: "I am sending you an outline of the head of what was 
considered by many experts to be the most symmetrical Leg- 
horn in the Boston show of last winter. This was a very 
fine headed bird for one of so large a body, and possessed 
probably as small comb and wattles as the leading Leghorn 
fanciers would like to see on their show specimens. A Leg- 
horn comb can be too small to look well. They want no 
stinting of color in these gay head-dresses which they wear. 
We are always looking for the best models, and for this very 
reason have not missed a New York or Boston show in the 
last ten years. It is through the comparison of the best that 
breeders see where to improve. 
The publication of these two 
heads will offer a good opportu- 
nity for study from two of the 
very best models we ever met." 

In Fig. 2 is shown a comb that 
is an abomination, and one that 
no fancier would tolerate on his 
breeding males, as no good 
could come from it no matter 
how careful he might be in the 
selection of the females. To start 
with, it has no even serrations. 
Some are too high, while the 
majority are too low, and it has 
a bad thumb mark on the side; 
it follows the head over too far 
and is poorly balanced, being too 
thick behind. This comb should be cut two and a half i)oints 
for extra serrations, one-half point for thumb mark on side, 
one-half point for poor shape in rear, and one point for un- 
even serrations, making a total of five points, or fifty per 
cent of the entire comb. 

In Fig. 3 is found just such combs as are often met in 




THE LEGHORNS. 



29 




the show room, and when the bird has unlimited range in 
the open air this style of comb makes a very fair showing, 
but confine the specimen for a few days, or place it in the 
fonl air of the show room for one day, and it goes all to 
pieces. It is too thin to support its weight and as soon as 
the bird gets the least bit out of condition it falls over to one 
side, or twists. The serrations will drop in either direction 
and the comb when viewed from above reminds one of a 
withered flower. This comb should be discounted one point 

for extra serrations, one 
point for being too thin 
at base, and one-half 
point for the serrations 
turning over at the top. 
The standard says that 
all Single Comb varieties 
should have five distinct 
points, and one-half 
point is discounted for 
every serration over and 
under five. 

In Fig. 4 we find an- 
other defective comb, 
one quite often met in 
the show room. The ser- 
rations are all even and 
well balanced, but there 
are too many of them, 
and the rear of the comb 
winds up wrong, showing serrations where there should be 
none. This comb should be discounted one and a half for 
extra serrations, one point for the twist in front, at least 
one-half more for the way it winds up in the rear, and one- 
half more for poor shape, comb being too long and too high. 
While on this section I shall also consider the Rose 
Comb and will now call the attention of the readers to Fig. 
10. Here is shown an ideal comb for this variety, and 1 
wisn to call special attention to it, both for the benefit of the 
breeders and the judges, as there is a difference of opinion 
among judges as to what actually constitutes a perfect Rose 
Comb for the Leghorn. It will be seen that the comb is di- 
rectly on a line from point to rear of spike and the only rise 
on the surface is that portion directly over the crowu of the 
head. It will also be seen that the spike is separated and 
not a continuation of the comb proper as in the Wyandotte. 
The rear of comb is elevated and does not follow the shape 
of the head as does the comb of the Wyandotte. You will 
notice also that the comb proper is covered evenly with 
small corrugations, making what our English fanciers would 

.^[.7,f».Vl?l7.^Hfv y term a finished surface. In 

Fig. 10 is shown the correct 
comb for Rose Comb Leg- 
horns. 

In Fig. S is shown a comb 
that is defective in every 
\ way. It is too large in front, 
the spike following the shape 
of the head like the Wyan- 
dotte. This comb is uneven 
on top and has a deep seam 
through the center. Such a 
comb should be discounted 
two points for general shape, 
one-half point for being too wide in front, and one point for 
hollow in center. 

In Fig. 9 we hml a coral) that is too narrow and one that 
is wider at rear than in front. It is not evenly serrated and 
shows a hollow in front. Such a comb should be discounted 





one and a half points for general shape, one point for hollow 
in front and one point for poor serrations. 

WATTLES AND EARLOBES. 

The section embracing wattles and earlobes is valued at 
ten points and is divided into four for wattles and six for 
lobes. In scoring it is subdivided again, especially so in the 
lobes, allowing at least three points for color. While this 
section is one that has no commercial value, next to comb it 
is the most important section 
of the Brown Leghorn. A 
poor earlobe is one of the very 
first defects that a painstak- 
ing fancier will discard from 
his breeding pens. 

I will now call the reader's 
attention to chart No. 1 and 
ask him to look carefully at 
this illustration. There are 
several points in connection 
with this bird to which I want 
to call special attention, espe- 
cially to the shape and size of 

the earlobes and wattles. Here is a bird that is rightly pro- 
portioned in every respect, and you will note that the ear- 
lobe is small considering the size of the bird. These were 
my instructions to Mr. Sewell, as we have found that in 
breeding an earlob; that is too large we invariably run a lot 
of red around the edges, and unless we are very careful will 
run white into the face, which is one of the disqualifications 
in this variety. The old standard says, "White in the face 
of cockerels." and the present standard says, "White in the 
face of cockerels or pullets," so you see how important it is 
to guard against any defects, or we are liable to breed dis- 
qu.ilifled specimens. 

In Fig. No. 2 we show wattles and earlobes that are 
wrong in every respect. The wattles themselves are too 
long, are poorly folded, and one of them a trifle longer than 
the other. Such a wattle as this should be discounted at 
least one point. The earlobes are uneven, showing a rough 
surface, and as a rule, look lumpy and unsightly, and should 
be discounted as least one point for 
shape, and as a rule, a lobe like this 
will be discounted from one-half to 
one and a half on color. 

In Fig. 3 we have another faulty ear- 
lobe and wattle: however, they are 
even in length, but they are poorly 
folded and hang like two independent 
sacks and should be discounted one 
point. That part of the earlobe which 
shows in Fig. 3 should be discounted at 
least one-half point in shape, as it is 
holiow in the center and shows too far 
down on the neck. Altogether it is built 
on the make-shift order. 

In No. 4 we have a wattle that is fairly good in propor- 
tion, not as good as it should be, but better than those in 
Figs. 2 and 3. This wattle should be discounted one-half 
point, as it rounds up "pat" at the bottom and rounds poorly 
under the lower mandible. The earlobes in this specimen 
have a tendency to run under on the neck, have an uneven 
surface, are not properly rounded out, and aside from this 
show almost one-half red. This should be discounted one 
and a half for shape and at least two for color. A point of 
importance to a fancier in selecting a male good in this sec- 
tion, would be an earlobe about the size of an ordinary pearl 
button, or more accurately describing it, about the size of 
the thumb nail and almost the same shape. Do everything 
in your power to reduce the size of this section, both on the 




30 



THE LEGHORNS. 



male and female, as in so doing you are not only breeding 
away from the defects, but from disqualifications as well. 

N£CK. 

The neck Is valued at seven points; three for shape and 
four for color, and as a rule the neck is good in shape. If 
there is any defect at all it is usually shown in the plumage 
being a little too short at the points of the shoulder, caused 
by the bird not being in full feather. The standard says, 
"Long, well arched, with abundant hackle flowing over the 
shoulders." In color this section should be a rich brilliant 
red, with a distinct stripe extending down the center of each 
feather, tapering to a point near its extremity, the red to be 
free from black. 

There is one point to which I would like to call attention 
here, and that is the description "tapering to a point near 
its extremity." Get this point fully fixed in your mind that 
the black must not run to the end of the red, but must stop 
with the red extending beyond and to a point, the black 
coming to a point inside of the red. We will now call your 
attention again to Chart No. 1 and ask you to study well the 
lay of the feathers in this chart. Remember this is intended 
to represent an ideal bird, or as near as we can represent it 
with the two colors, black and white. But, to further help 
you in this direction we have inserted a full page chart of 
feathers which we will describe one by one. By referring to 
the chart of feathers it will be seen that No. 6 is very good 
indeed, however the shaft in this feather is red where it 
should be black; but taking it all in all it is as near a perfect 
feather as we could pick up at the time we were having the 
chart made. Feather No. 7 shows practically the same de- 
fect, with a little lighter shade of under-color. Each of these 
feathers should be discounted one-half point. Feather No. 
8 shows black only on one side of the shaft, or in other 
words the red and the black mingle to the shaft, making a 
sort of smutty color. A hackle with this color throughout 
should be discounted one point. 

In Feather No. 9 we find a hackle entirely too light, fail- 
ing in the dark under-color, also failing almost entirely in 
the black striping. A neck like this should be discounted 
two and a half points. In Feather No. 10 we have a feather 
resembling No. 8 in many respects; however, the color is not 
so good, as it, is more or less washed out with the red, and 
the under-color is very poor — in fact, such a feather as this 
would never breed a show specimen of the male sex. From 
such a neck, if properly mated, the breeder might get some 
fairly good females, as the extreme color used to produce 
males is quite often too strong to produce a nice shade of 
brown in the opposite sex. This we call up later in de- 
scribing the females and will give it more space at that 
time. Cuts on shape of neck are usually made on a neck 
that is too straight or too long. In either event the cut is 
one- half to one point, as in degree. It the feathers are too 
short, not being fully developed, making a break at the 
junction of the neck and back, the cut is from one-half to 
one, as in degree. 

BACK. 

The back is valued at seven points and is sub-divided 
into three for shape and four for color. This section should 
have a higher valuation, especially so in shape, as it is one of 
the most important sections on any part of the bird, and 
without a proper proportion of points allowed it is impos- 
sible to make your penalties as severe as they should be for 
a defective specimen. Since we have but three points to the 
shape we will have to make our cuts in proportion to the 
number, of points allowed by the American Poultry Associa- 
tion. And. right here let me say to the reader, when you 
criticise judges for light cuts on serious defects, stop to 



think a minute, look at your standard and see if the judge 
had a right to cut more than he did. 

The writer has been quite often criticised for making 
cuts that the critics imagined were not severe enough, when 
in reality he had gone past the limit and was giving the 
score card instead of the bird every benefit, and until the 
standard is well understood by the breeder and every section 
thoroughly familiar to him he will not be competent nor 
capable of criticising the work of the judges under the score 
card system. The back of the Leghorn should be of medium 
length, the saddle rising in a short concave sweep to the tail. 
One of the very serious defects in Leghorns, especially in 
this section, is the length of the back. We quite often find a 
specimen that is diminutive in every point, with a back from 
one to three inches longer than he should have, or in other 
words, a back that spoils the symmetry of the bird. 

I again call attention to Chart No. 1. Study this chart 
and look well into the detail, not only of the length of the 
back, but of the breadth of the "back between the shoulders 
and of the concave sweep as it rises to the tail. This back 
does not rise up with geutle slope, like the Brahma, nor Is it 
heavily cushioned, like the Cochin; but it comes up upright- 
ly, making a sharp concave. If the back is too long, the cut 
is from one-half to one and one-half points; if too narrow, 
showing a weakly constituted specimen, the cut is from one- 
half to one and a half; if feathers are very black in concave 
sweep to tail, the cut is from one-half to one; if saddle 
feathers are short, not falling well over the side, the cut is 
from one-half to one. In color this section is just as impor- 
tant as the hackle and the standard description of one an- 
swers for the other, with the exception that the formation of 
the feather is different. In the saddle we have a feather 
broader, and the long saddles (or as Mr. Feleh puts it, the 
"side hangers") much longer. There is probably no one sec- 
tion in color in this breed that has been given as close atten- 
tion by the fanciers in the past ten years as the striping in 
the saddle of the males, in which we find specimens so near 
perfect that it is almost impossible to discount them under 
the .score card system of judging. 

In feathers Numbers 3 and 4 in the feather chart are to 
be found about as near perfect saddle feathers as it is pos- 
sible to get them. The only defect that can be discounted 
is the striping in the center of feather, or in other words, the 
part of the shaft running red, and when you cut a back like 
this one-half point you are making it a very serious defect. 
In feathers Nos. 1 and 2 we have specimens that are not dark 
enough, failing almost entirely in the black striping, making 
the back when viewed from above look like a sort of cherry 
red, pr more after the color of a Black Red Game. A back in 
color like feathers Nos. 1 and 2 should be discounted two 
points. In feathers No. 5 we have a better feather, but one 
that is far from perfect, as the striping shows only on one 
side of the shaft, and even then is not clear and distinct. 
This feather should be discounted one point. 

It is well to remember in breeding males that if we ex- 
pect to produce a large percentage of exhibition cockerels we 
must breed from a male of good, strong striping in hackle 
and saddle. Be careful, however, especially in the hackle, 
to see that the end of the feathers do not blunt, having black 
in the outside edging, making a large, black smut or collar 
around the neck, as this is one of the very serious defects 
and one that will receive a cut from one to two points in the 
hands of a competent judge. You will find it impossible to 
get a nice striping in the long feathers of the saddle, such 
as IS shov/n in the feather chart in feathers Nos. 1 and 2, as 
you can in the shorter feathers shown in feathers 3 and 4, 
but you must breed with the aim of getting these long feath- 
ers striped in proportion if you expect to get a perfect sad- 
dle on the cockerels. 



1 4 W)p»i WHiBKIS'!**'^' 




32 



THE LEGHORNS. 



BREAST. 

The breast is valued at ten points and is divided into six 
for shape and four for color. In shape it should be round, 
full and carried well forward. Here is a description that 
differs from that of almost any other breed in the standard. 
The phrase. "Carried well forward," I believe, is not under- 
stood by either the breeders or the judges. I have noticed 
the criticisms of some of the best cuts along this line, and I 
find (hat breeders as a general rule do not understand this as 
the American Poultry Association intended they should un- 
derstand it, and I again call attention to Chart No. 1. The 
description of most breeds says, "Deep and well rounded," 
but in thp Leghorn it says, "Carried well forward." Get 
this idea well into your head, and remember that a Brown 
Leghorn male to be well shaped in the breast is not deep in 
front like a Plymouth Rock or a Wyandotte, but is rounded 
up, and, as a Game man would say, "Tucked up closely un- 
der the throat." 

Discount for crooked breast bone is quite often done in 
this section, while it should be done in the body section, as 
the breast bone proper is a ,part of the body, and that part 
that crooks or turns over is usually well down between the 
thighs, hence the reader will notice that we omit that part 
in discounting this section in shape. If the breast is too 
narrow or too flat, the cut should be one-half to one and 
one-half points, as in degree. If deep down, giving the sec- 
tion more of a Dorking appearance, cut one point. If it falls 
in, not showing a nice rounded out appearance, cut one 
point. If stopping too abruptly, not carried up well in front, 
the cut is one-half. 

In color the breast should be black, and as a rule this 
section is good in color, but occasionally there will be a 
trace of red striping or lacing on the feathers, and such 
should be severely discounted. If only a slight trace of lac- 
ing on a few feathers, the cut should be one-half point; but 
if the breast shows a mottled appearance, it should be dis- 
counted from one and one-half to three points, as in degree. 
BODY AND FLUFF. 

This section is not so very important in a Brown Leg- 
horn, for, as a rule, it is passed as perfect and in the major- 
ity of cases it would be hard to find it defective enough to 
justify a discount. There are six points allotted to it — three 
for shape and thr^je for color. In shape the body should be 
of medium length, tapering from front to rear and closely 
feathered, with fluff rather short. In this section I will take 
up the matter of crooked breast bones, for in this breed, re- 
gardless of the fact that they are very light and alert, and 
quick on their feet, we find crooked breast bones as often as 
we do in the Asiatic or American classes. I have been asked 
often if a crooked breast bone will breed the same defect. I 
hardly think it will, but at the same time I do not believe it 
to be a good policy to mate up birds with this defect year 
after year. I have noticed that some strains of Brown Leg- 
horns are more apt to have this defect than others, and I am 
rather led to believe that there has been some carelessness 
in the breeding to such an extent that it has become heredi- 
tary. Where the bone is slightly turned, the cut should be 
one-half point. If it is crooked so as to make a deformity 
the cut should be from one-half to two points, as in degree. 

In color the body should be black. If any signs of mossy 
or red colored feathers appear, the cut should be from one- 
half to one. as in degree. The fluff portion of the bird should 
be rather short, and in color, black. As I have said, this 
section is usually good in color, but occasionally you will 
find a bird that is down behind, out of shape to such an ex- 
tent that the symmetry of tlie entire specimen is injured, in 
which case it should receive a cut of from one-half to one. 
If color fails (as it does sometimes in body and breast, with 



the red feathers running around) the cut should be from 
one-halt to one, as in degree. 

WINGS. 

Wings are valued at eight points and are subdivided into 
four for shape and four for color. As a rule this section is 
good in shape. Defects that are usually found are, wings 
not properly folded, and broken or damaged feathers. A 
damaged feather in the wing of a Brown Leghorn is severely 
punished by the judge, as it more than likely covers a multi- 
tude of sins. If a broken feather should appear, the tips be- 
ing broken at the ends, the wings should be discounted from 
one-half to two, as in degree. If poorly folded, failing to 
tuck up close to the body, the cut should be from one-half 
to one, as in degree. In color, the bows should be a bright 
red, the front edge black and covered by the breast feathers. 
The primaries should be black, the lower web edged with 
brown; secondaries, black, the edge of the lower web a rich 
brown sufficient to secure the wing bay of the same color; 
coverts, greenish black, forming a well-defined bar of that 
color across the wing when folded. There is no more hand- 
some wing on any bird than on the Brown Leghorn if it is 
properly bred. The bay and black, with the defined bar 
across, makes a pleasing study in colors. 

Another point about the Brown Leghorns to which I 
wish to call special attention of the breeder is this: The 
breaking off or pulling out of feathers in the wings of spec- 
imens that are being placed on exhibition. It is true that 
you can fool the judges by doing so, but you fool yourselves 
a great deal worse than you do the judges, from the simple 
fact that you breed from a bird that should have been dis- 
qualified, and the next year you have your trouble for your 
labor, as the chances are ten to one that many of the off- 
spring will breed with this same defect. There is so much 
"taking" in preparing birds for exhibition that I would 
gladly vote to eliminate all color disqualifications, allowing 
more points to the sections that were defective in this re- 
spect, and cutting them so severely that birds with off-color 
would soon be relegated to the rear. 

The claims made that the letting down of the American 
I'oultry Association on its color disqualification would in- 
jure the breed, I do not believe — never did believe. It has 
not hurt other breeds, and I do not believe it would hurt the 
Brown Leghorns, for no up-to-date breeder wants them de- 
fective, and whether it is a disqualification or not, they will 
breed just as hard to get rid of the defects as they would if 
it were thrown off the table and declared worthless. Then 
again — a slight injury to the wing at the time the feather is 
in its embryo form is liable to discolor it and disqualify a 
specimen that ordinarily v/ould be perfect in color. 

The defects that are usually found in the color of wings 
are poor wing barring and the mingling of black with red 
on shoulders, giving the bird a kind of. smutty appearance 
on top. If the bird has a smooth, even surface on neck, wing 
bow and back, but the feathers a variation of color on wing 
bow from that of the other section, it should be discounted, 
and with a mixture of any other color than red, it should be 
discounted from one-half to one and one-half, as in degree. 
If any sign of white appears in the primaries or secondar- 
ies of cockerels, the bird should be disqualified. I do not 
mean by this that judges should take a microscope, or strain 
their eyes to find this defect, but at the same time if the 
defect is clear there is nothing left for them to do but throw 
them out. 

TAIL. 

Tail has a valuation of eight points and is subdivided 
into four for shape and four for color and it is a section that 
is very valuable to the fancier from the fact that it seldom 
passes without a discount of from one to one and one-half 



THE LEGHORNS. 



33 



on shape alone. The Leghorns are very flighty, and as a 
rule soon become "coop-tired" on exhibition and hold their 
tails in a careless manner as compared with their carriage 
in the yards. The Leghorn male that is inclined to be the 
least bit high in tail in the yard is almost sure to carry it 
perpendicularly or a little bit forward out of perpendicular 
line when on exhibition. A squirrel-tail is an abomination 
on any bird, and in no breed more than in a Leghorn. Still 
it ".s one o( the defects that the breed is subject to and one 
that breeders have constantly to guard against. I should 
prefer a tail down at an angle of about 85 degrees, something 
of the form of the Minorca, believing that from such a speci- 
men we get, not only our most handsome show bird, but by 
far our best breeding bird. 

Mr. Sewell has well pictured this section in the chart 
(No. 1). Here you see a well-balanced specimen, with tail 
at the proper angle, the sickles and coverts showing just as 
they should on the perfect specimen. This is my ideal in a 
Leghorn taii. If the tail is carried too high, somewhat on a 
perpendicular line, the cut should be one. If short in cov- 
erts, as is quite often the case, showing only the tail proper, 
the cut should be from one-half to one. If one sickle is miss- 
ing, cut one; if both are missing, two. If the tail is carried 
past perpendicular line, making almost a squirrel tail of it, 
the cut should be fi'om one and one-half to two and one-half. 
If the tail is carried to one side so as to be out of straight 
line, the specimen should be disqualified. 

In color the tail should be black, and in this respect it is 
seldom defective. If any white appears, the specimen is dis- 
qualified, except in old birds, and that we have described 
under the head of disqualitications, where a certain amount 
of white is allowed at the base of the sickles of the cocks, 
and when such white does appear, the discount should be 
one and one-half points for color alone. 

LEGS. 

Legs and loes are valued at seven points. Here is one 
section of the breed that is not subdivided and the judge 
miist use his own discretion in cutting for color and shape. 
In color, the legs should be yellow; toes, yellow or dusky 
yellow. In shape the thighs should be of medium length, 
and slender, the snanks rather long and toes straight. If 
shanks are too short, giving the bird a dumpy appearance, 
the cut should be from one-half to one; if too heavy, giving 
the bird the appearance of the Dorking, the cut should be 
one. If the toes are crooked or turned around, as is often 
the case, the cut should be from one-half to one. If they fail 
to show a rich yellow color on shanks, the cut should be one- 
half to one. If an ashy or light color appears, caused some- 
times by an alkali soil, the cut should be from one-half to 
one and one-half, as in degree. 

THE LEGHORN FEMALE. 

Chart No. 2 illustrates my ideal of the Leghorn female. 
The shape will answer for all of the varieties. In markings 
we show the ideal feathers for the Brown Leghorn. The 
only alteration we should suggest that would improve the 
shape of the bird would be a trifle more length to legs. Con- 
sider the picture carefully as it stands. Place your hand 
over the legs and feet and then look again at the body, and 
I believe that you will agree with me that a little more leg 
would add to the beauty of the outline. In markings Artist 
Sewell has undoubtedly done the finest piece of work for 
this variety ever put on paper. The nice, seal brown shown 
on the back, wings and tail is as near perfect as black and 
white can be made to produce this effect. We will take up 
the female in sections, and go over them similar to our 
treatment of the male, eliminating symmetry, however, as 
the cuts in that section on the male variety will answer just 
as well for the female. 



SIZE. 

As we have before explained, this section is valued at 
ten points and it is vastly important that breeders of Leg- 
horns should understand that it is one of the very impor- 
tant sections of the breed. In Chart No. 2 we have tried to 
show a bird that is up in size, carrying itself sprightly as a 
Leghorn should, with the weight equally divided in all parts 
of the body, making a symmetrical outline and conveying to 
the reader an ideal of the Leghorn as it should be. When 
breeders are careless and place on exhibition a narrow, con- 
tracted, diminutive specimen, they should suffer for their 
carelessness, and the judge who fails to cut for size when 
puny little specimens are placed on exhibition is failing to 
do bis duty in that direction. 

CONDITION. 

Condition is so well described in the description of the 
male that a repetition of same would be of no benefit to the 
reader. 

HEAD. 

The head is valued at four points and is subdivided into 
two for shape and two for color. In shape it should be short 
and deep, and smaller that the male. In color, it should be 
brown, edged with lighter brown. In Chart No. 2 is shown 
an ideal head in evei-y respect. The head is deep enough 
through from top to bottom; is long enough to be symmet- 
rical, and has a nicely curved beak and that sprightly intel- 
ligent look so characteristic of this variety. 

Where the head is too long or gamey the cut should be 
from one-half to one point; if narrow through from top to 
bottom, cut one-half point. If the beak is too long, failing 
to show a nice curve, the cut should be one-half point. 

COMB. 

The comb is valued at ten points, and like the same sec- 
tion in the male, is one of the most important so far as fancy 
points are concerned. In Chart No. 2 is shown an ideal comb 
as described by the standard — five distinct serrations, comb 
falling all on one side of the head, nicely folded, with the 
front serration sligntly elevated. From this kind of a comb 
a fancier may expect to produce prize specimens. However, 
I will say while on this section that if one is breeding for 
cockerels alone, a comb that is stiffer at the base and more 
upright would probably give better results for the male side; 
but if breeding for females, one must have a nicely shaped, 
smoothly folded comb, as shown in Chart No. 2. 

In Fig. 5 is shown a 
comb that is quite often 
met In the show room, and 
from outside appearances 
there are some good fea- 
tures about it. It is loose 
on the head, however, anU 
is just as liable to fall on 
one side as on the other. It 
does not seem to have any 
special position. A comb of 
this shape may be on one 
side of the head to-day and 
on the other side to-mor- 
row, and perhaps the third 
day it may be lopped, showing on both sides of the head 
similar to the Minorcas. It has too many serrations, the 
points themselves are too long, and the position on the head 
almost blinds the fowl. This comb should be discounted 
one point on general shape, a half point more for the ext: i 
serration and a half point more for the points of the comb ' 
being entirely too long. 

In Fig. 6 we have another very poorly formed comb, one 
that is stifl." and upright in front, falling too far over to the 
rear, and falling on both sides of the head. This comb 





LEGHORN FEMALE STUDY. 

CHART ^o. 3. 

Oes,«„ed ,y fr.n.l.ne L. Se.eU C.pres./. ,or M,s Ar.,c,e ,o lUus.r.te t,e .pp«ca«o„ o. ,/,e S..n,.r, o, Per,ecUo.. 
The Distribution of Color In nil Sections of the Body Is here Portrnyed, nnd 
the Shape of a Leahorn Female Outlined. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



35 



A_ 





should be discounted two 
points for general shape, cue 
point, for lacking sufficient 
serrations and a half point 
more for the rear portion fall- 
ing too far forward. 

In Fig. 7 we have a comb 
that is an abomination to the 
breed and one that I regret 
to say is too often met 
in the yards of Leghorn 
breeders. It looks more 
like a poorly constructed 
piece of fancy work, where the edges have been torn 
or worn out. Such a comb as this will only prove a disap- 
pointment to the breeder and should be cut at least four 
points for general shape. It 
has a double twist, falls on 
both sides of the head and lops 
from left to right and from 
right to left. There are enough 
serrations, but they are not 
evenly divided. In fact, the 
entire outline is wrong, and if 
cut from four to four and one- 
half points it will not be dis- 
counted too severely. A speci- 
men showing a comb like this f 
should be discarded from the breeding yards and used only 
for meat, for the fancier takes chances every day he keeps 
the bird in his yards. 

In Pig. 13 is shown an ideal 
comb for the Rose Comb varieties. 
Such combs as these are very rare, 
but they are what the standard 
calls for, and though we cannot ex- 
pect to make a great deal of prog- 
ress in breeding this fancy point, 
no matter what variety of the Leg- 
horn one is breeding, whether the 
Brown, White, Buff or Black, the 
description of this section is alike, 
and the importance to the breeder 
in securing the best has the same weight. 

WATTLES AND EARLOBES. 

Wattles and ear-lobes have a valuation of ten points, 
and while they are not so important on the female as on the 
male, they are of enough importance under the present stan- 
dard to bear close attention in making selection for the 
breeding pen. Study carefully the lobe as illustrated in 
Chart No. 2. There is shown a small lobe, smooth on top, 
carried in the proper position, and pure white. Such lobss 
are scarce, but it is from just such lobes that one may expect 
to produce his prize specimens. The old standard disquali- 
fies for white in the face of cockerels, but the present stand- 
ard disqualifies for white in the face of cockerels or pullets, 
and by breeding from a large ear-lobe, one that is poorly 
folded, full of wrinkles and creases (such a one is shown in 
Fig. 5), one is very liable to get the white to extend past 
the lobe and into the face of the pullet, thereby disqualify- 
ing the bird. 

Fig. fi shows a lobe which is not even. It is small at the 
top and broad at the bottom, with a crease in the center, 
while Fig. 7 shows a lobe that looks very much like a lump 
of fat. A lobe such as is shown in Fig. 7 almost invariably 
has an edging of red around the top, and like the head which 
it adorns, should be thrown out and never used in the breed- 
ing yards. 




Where the lobes are too large and uneven, but still hold- 
ing good in color, the cut should be from one-half to one 
point. A lumpy lobe, like the one shown in Fig. 7 should be 
discounted at least one point for shape. The ear-lobe shown 
in Fig. 6 should be discounted one and one-half points on 
shape. In color,, the lobe should be pure white. If only a 
trace of red appears, the cut should be one-half point. If 
there are red streaks through them, going in around the 
edges and running up into the face, the cut should be from 
one-half to one and one-half point. It over half of the lobe 
is red, the specimen should be disqualified. 

NECK. 

The neck is valued at seven points (three for shape and 
four for color), and in Chart No. 2 is shown the division of 
color in this section. The standard description is, "Rich 
orange yellow with a black stripe extending down the cen- 
ter, tapering to a point near the end of the feather and con- 
forming tn the shape of the feather." I have found in breed- 
ing this variety (and I believe the Partridge Cochin breeders 
in producing prize specimens have run up against the same 
obstacle), that it is next to impossible to get a nice striped 
hackle on an even surface colored female. In getting a 
nice seal brown on the back, wings and coverts one is 
very apt to nin a little penciling into the neck, and it is 
a question in my mind whether it would not be better for 
the American Poultry Association to change the wording 
of this section, allowing the neck to be penciled and hold- 
ing the rich orange yellow on the surface, paying less 
attention to the black striping. My own experience has 
been that specimens of this type will produce the best fe- 
males. 

In shape Chart No. 2 shows an ideal section. The hackle 
feathers are long enough and finish up in a perfect outline, 
still not too long, as is often the case with specimens that 
show a heavy cape around their neck. If the neck is too 
long or gamey, the cut should be from one-half to one point. 
If too straight, failing to show a nice arch, the cut should be 
one point. If there is a break at the junction of the neck 
and the body, caused by feathers not being long enough, the 
cut should be from one-half to one point, as in degree. 

In color, if the black centers are slightly penciled, the 
cut should be one-half point. If the red extends into the 
center of the feather, failing to show black, as is quite often 
the case, the cut should be from one-half to one and one-half 
points, as in degree. If the black runs to the lower end of 
the feather, failing to show the nice lacing on the outside, 
the cut should be from one-half to one point, as in degree. 

BACK. 

This section is valued at seven points and has only three 
points allowed for color, the other four going for shape. 
In shape it should be of medium length, with a slight rise to 
th'? tail. In color the web of the feathers on the surface 
should be brown, finely penciled with darker brown (the 
lighter shade predominant), the effect producing soft brown 
tints with no shafting perceptible in the feathers. That part 
of the feather not exposed on the surface should be brown, 
shading into a slate in the under-color or fluffy portion of 
the feather. 

I think a better description of this section, instead of 
saying "That part of the feather not exposed to surface," 
would be to describe it thus: Brown, finely penciled with 
a darker brown, the lighter shade predominant — this to 
cover all parts of the knitted portion of the feather. By 
"knitted portion" I have reference to that part of the feather 
that is woven closely together, the rest of the description 
being for the downy part or under-color. 

If the back is too long or too narrow, the cut should be 
from one-half to one point. If too short, giving the bird a 



36 



THE LEGHORNS. 



dumpy appearance, the cut should be from one-half to one 
point. If it fails in rising where it Joins on to the tail, the 
cut should be one point, and if too heavily cushioned (much 
after the style of the Wyandotte) the cut should be one 
point. 

In color, if any red or brick appears on the surface, the 
cue should be one point. If shafting appears on the feather, 
giving the surface an uneven appearance, the cut should be 
frcm one-half to one and one-half points, as in degree. 

BREAST. 

This section is valued at ten points, and is divided into 
six for shape and four for color. In shape it should be round 
and full; in color, a rich salmon, shading off lighter under 
the body and free from shafting. In Chart No. 2 is shown 
an ideal shaped breast. If ihe breast is too narrow or too 
full, the cut should be from one to one and one-half points, 
as in degree. If failing to show a nice rounded out appear- 
ance, the cut should be from one-half to one point. If not 
deep enough through from point of shoulders to keel bone, 
the cut should be from one-half to one point. In color, if 
the salmon shows a sign of shafting on the feathers, the cut 
should be from one-half to one point, as in degree. If a 
black or bi-own edging appears on the end of the feathers, 
the cut should be from one-half to two points, as in degree. 
The color of the Brown Leghorn female's breast is usually 
good, and as a rule is seldom discounted. The defects that 
do appear are those that I have described as shafting, or 
brown edging at the end of feathers, and when this appears 
it should be severely discounted. 

BODY AND FLUfF. 

This section is valued at six points and is divided into 
three for shape and three for color. In shape the body should 
be of medium length, deep and plump, the fluff rather short 
and more developed than in the male. In color the body 
should be a light brown and the fluff an ashy brown. In 
color it is seldom that this section is discounted, as it is al- 
most invariably good. Occasionally a trace of the brown 
edging will show (as described in that of the breast), and 
when this is met it should be discounted from one-half to 
one point. In shape, if the body is too narrow, failing in the 
nice plump appearance characteristic of this breed, the cut 
should be from one-half to one and one-half points. If the 
bi-east bone is crooked, turning over slightly and one-sided, 
or turning at the end, as is often the case, the cut should be 
one-half to two points, as in degree. 

WINGS. 

Wings are valued at eight points, and are divided into 
four for shape and four for color. In shape they should be 
large and well folded. The word "large" as used here refers 
to a large wing for the size of the specimen. Not a large, 
ungainly wing, as might be interpreted, but the Leghorn 
being a sprightly fowl, very alert and quick on the wing, it 
is more developed for the size of the specimen than in any 
of the American or Asiatic breeds. When the fowl is in re- 
pose the wings should be nicely folded against the sides. If 
the wings fail to fold as they should, showing a kind of a 
droopy appearance, the cut should be from one-half to one 
point. It the feathers are broken or twisted, the cut should 
be from one-half to one point. If the ends of the feathers 
are broken off or missing, as is often the case in the show 
room, the discount should be from one-half to two and one- 
half points, as in degree. Judges must deal severely with 
these defects, as quite often It is the case that a feather has 
been broken to hide a disqualification, as white disqualifies. 

In color the primaries should be slaty brown, the outer 
edge slightly penciled with lighter color; secondaries brown, 
the web evenly penciled with a lighter brown; coverts same 



color as described in the back. It is seldom that we find a 
perfect colored wing, especially on the surface. As a rule 
they will show a brick color running down on to the shoul- 
ders and well on to the center of the wing. Then, again, one 
is quite likely to find on some of the darkest specimens a 
tendency to a black or smutty edge of brown along the lower 
feathers. Should this black or smutty edging appear, the 
cut should be from one-half to one and one-half points, as in 
degree. Where the brick or red color runs on the surface, 
the cut should be from one-half to two points, as in degree. 

TAIL. 

The tail is valued at eight points, four for shape and 
four for color. For shape I refer to Chart No. 2, and for de- 
scription of shape I quote the standard — "Long, full and car- 
ried well up, but not upright." The Leghorn is a fowl that is 
always on the move. It is alert, quick to perceive danger, 
quick to go when it hears it, and while the tail should not be 
carried perpendicularly, it should be carried at an angle of 
about eighty-five degrees Chart No. 2 shows the tail in its 
proper proportions. 

A well-balanced Leghorn tail has seven feathers on a 
side. It is seldom that one can find a well-shaped tail with 
over eight feathers or under six, and as a rule seven feathers 
on a side give the best balanced and most symmetrical look- 
ing specimen. If the tail is carried too high, on a perpen- 
dicular line or even in front of the perpendicular line, the 
cut should bo from one-half to two points, as in degree. If 
too short, giving the specimen a dumpy appearance, the 
cut should be from one-half to one and one-half points: if 
feathers are missing or broken, from one-half to one point. 

In color the tail should be dull black, excepting the two 
higher main tail feathers, which are penciled light brown. 
The coverts should be brown, penciled with a lighter brown. 
In fact, the color of the coverts is identical with the color of 
the back. The two main tail feathers add to the beauty of 
the specimen by being penciled, as you then have a nice 
seal brown from the neck on to the end of the back and tail. 
If any brown appears in the main tail aside from the two 
main feathers, the cut should be from one-half to one point, 
as in degree. If the two main tail feathers fail in showing 
the nice penciling, the cut should be from one-half to one 
point. If brown tips appear on the end of feathers with a 
sort of gray shading, the cut should be from one-half to one 
and one-half points, as in degree. 

LEGS AND TOES. 

Legs and toes are valued at seven points. In shape the 
thighs shoi;Jd be of medium length and slender; the toes 
straight. In color the plumage should be an ashy brown; 
shanks, bright yellow; toes, yellow, or dusky yellow. 

In Cart No. 2 the size of the legs is rightly propor- 
tioned, but the thighs should be a trifle longer, so that as 
the judges term it. there would be a little more daylight 
under the specimen. With this exception we would pass 
them as perfect. When legs are too short, or too long as 
the case might be, the cut should be from one-half to one 
point. If standing too close together, giving the bird a 
narrow and contracted appearance from a front view, the 
cut should be from one-halt to one. If the knees bend in 
behind, giving the specimen a knock-kneed appearance, the 
cut should be from one to one and one-half. 

In color the legs should be rich yellow, and if they fail 
in this section, showing a spotted or ashy color, the cut 
should be from one-half to one point; if bleached out, giv- 
ing them a flesh color similar to the Dorkings, the cut 
should be from one-half to three points, and if they fail en- 
tirely in showing yellow the specimen should be disqualified. 

THEO. HEWES. 



BROWN LEGHORNS. 



A Prominent Judge Goes Deeply Into the Shape and Color Question from an Exhibitor's and a Breeder's Point 

of View, Discusses the Penalty for Prevailing Defects, and Advises 

How to Avoid Them. 



By F. H. Shellabarqer, 



BROWN LEGHORNS are too well known to need any 
detailed account of when they were first introduced 
to the American fanciers, but we are told by those 
who claim to be authorities that they originated in 
Italy, in a i>lace called Leghorn, and from that city they 
derive their name. We are also told that the original Leg- 
horn was of the White variety; that from them came sports, 
and that in fact all the different varieties of Leghorns owe 
their origin to ihe White variety. If this be true, we 
shall be able to show further on in this series of articles 
where the Browns at times breed objectionable color, which 
will tend to verify the above statement in favor of th? White 
variety being the original Leghorn. 

TYPICAL CARRIAGE. 

We first wish to call particular attention to shape in 
judging the male Leghorn. By reference to page 61 of the 
American Standard of Perfection we find the schedule of 
sections with values allowed each. We are instructed to 
begin with typical carriage, which has a valuation of eight 
points. That being the case, one must first consider the 
different sections that go to make up typical carriage. We 
find the aggregate value of points placed on the different 
sections that go to make up shape to be about forty-four 
points, counting four points for shape of wattles and ear- 
lobes (there being ten points allowed for both color and 
shape), and allowing on shape three points of the seven 
credited to legs and toes. 

We therefore fled that typical carriage sustains a value 
equal to a fraction better than one-fifth of the value placed 
on all sections that go to make up shape. Hence in scor- 
ing we discount the defects in shape first. Then if we have 
cut the specimen two and one-half points or less in the vari- 
ous sections of shape, we cut typical carriage one-half point. 
If we have cut three points and not to exceed five we cut 
typical carriage one. 

HEAD. 

We would now call attention to "Brutus," owned by J. 
H. Johnson (page 11). Beginning with shape of head, our 
standard calls for the head short and deep, with a value of 
four points for shape. By referring to Brutus we see the 
beak is a tritle long and should be cut one-half point. The 
beak should also be straight with the center of the head 
when viewed from in front. A beak that turns to one side, 
or one in which the upper mandible fails to close on the 
lower part the entire length and in some cases forming what 
is termed a cross beak, is a serious fault, in fact it is 
deemed of sufficient importance to disqualify. By referring 
again to Brutus we find the head looks to be too narrow up 
and down, and the standard calls for the head to be deep. 
For such a defect the cut should be one-half point. The 
face of the Leghorn male should be free from folds or wrin- 
kles, and where such defects appear the cuts should be from 
one-half to one, according to degree. 



COMB. 

The next section to consider is comb, with a value of ten 
points. It should be either single or rose. If single, it 
should be of medium size, perfectly straight and upright. 
shouJd be firm on the head, free from twists, side sprigs 
or excrescences. It should be deeply serrated, having five 
points, and should also extend well over the back of the 
head, but show no tendency to follow the shape of the neck. 
A comb that, when viewed from in front, shows a part of 
the same shape as the letter S, is termed a twisted comb 
and is severely dealt with. A comb lopping over to one 
side disqualifies. The same also applies to Rose Combs, 
and where a specimen in Rose Comb Leghorns fails to show 
a spike at the rear of comb, the same being a natural de- 
fect, the specimen Is termed disqualified. 

To return to Single Comb Browns. We stated the comb 
should be of medium size and in this respect many persons 
are at a loss to understand what is meant by medium. We 
understand it to mean medium in size as compared to the 
combs usual'y found; not as small as would be termed the 
proper size for a Plymouth Rock, and on the other hand, not 
as large as v.'ould be termed the proper size for a Minorca, 
but between the two. We call attention to comb on Brutus. 
It extends a trifle too far forward on the beak and shows 
too much height above the head to where the first serration 
joins the base of the comb. There also is a slight tendency 
for the back of the comb to conform to the shape of the neck 
and we think there Is also too much of the comb back of the 
eye. In scoring we should cut such a comb one point. We 
do not wish to cast any reflection on the artist, or the breed- 
er for whom this cut was made, and will say that as we 
understand it the cut was made to represent a bird from na- 
ture and not one absolutely perfect. 

We find in the standard that the comb should be free 
from side sprigs. When sprigs appear on a comb the cut is 
one for each sprig. We think it far better for poultrym:-n 
not to use sitch specimens as breeders, for when side sprigs 
appear in a flock if one is not very careful the defect will 
soon become prevalent. To be on the safe side it is best to 
discard all such breeders. There are many forms of defects 
found on combs and scarcely any two are defective alike so 
far as the place wherein the defects occur, and to attempt to 
describe all the different styles of combs and various forms 
of defects would require no small amount of time and space. 
To conclude this section we would suggest to breeders 'that 
in selecting a male to breed a comb should be chosen that is 
perfectly upright and firm upon the head and is thick 
enough through at the base to hold itself upright. 
WATTLES AND EARLOBES. 
Wattles and ear-lobes are valued at ten points, but we 
are at a loss to say just what per cent of the amount is for 
shape, as both color and shape are valued together, but we 
think that to allow four points of the ten to shape of wattles 
and ear-lobes Would not be far out of the way. Leghorn 



38 



THE LEGHORNS. 



wattles should be long, thin and pendulous, yet are not 
always found up to this description. Where they are not of 
an equal length, or where they have folds, or bunches on 
them the cut is from one-half to one and one-halt points, 
as in degree. 

Ear-lobes should be smooth, thin, free from folds or 
wrinkles and fit close to the head. Where they show rough 
on the surface or have folds or wrinkles the outs are from 
one-half to one. We are not fully satisfied with the stand- 
ard description of shape of ear-lobes and think the shape 
could have been mentioned in the standard as heart or egg 
shape. Breeders and judges are equally at sea when it comes 
to saying what the shape should be where no description is 
given in the standard as to form, size, etc. 

NECK. 

We shall next consider shape of neck which is valued 
at three points. It should be long and well arched with 
abundant hackle flowing well over the shoulders. If the 
neck is short the cut should be one-half point, or if short 
and not well arched, one point, or if the two former defects 
as mentioned appear, and the hackle fails to cover well down 
onto the shoulders, causing a break in the outline of the 
shape of the neck at the juncture of the back and breast, the 
cut should be from one to one and one-half. 

84 C«. 

Back is valued as to shape at three points. It should 
be of medium length with the saddle rising in a sharp con- 
cave sweep to the tail. Saddle feathers should be long. Where 
the back is long the cut should be from one-half to one, or 
where the back slopes from the center to the tail as in 
B. R. Games the cut should be from one-half to one, as in 
degree. Crooked or roached backs disqualify. 

BREAST. 

Breast is valued at six points. It should be round, full 
and carried well forward with breast bone straight. The 
defects in shape of breast are lack of fullness, and flat, not 
round. For such defects the cut is from one-half to one 
and one-half, or where a crooked breast bone occurs the 
cut is from one-half to one, according to degree. 

BODY AND HVEF. 

Body and fluff ai'e valued at three points as to shape. 
The body should be medium in length, tapering from front 
to rear. Keel bono straight, fluff rather short. Where the 
body is very narrow, or where it is long, or should it ap- 
pear very short, the cut should be from one-half to one. 
What we said as to breast bone, where the same is Ci-ooked, 
would have properly come under the section of body, and 
is styled keel bone. This defect is very often caused by 
the birds roosting when immature on small perches, or 
those having sharp edges, thus causing the bone to grow 
crooked. Very frequently breeders will allow the chicks 
to roost on the tree limbs, as they will take to a high posi- 
tion just as quick as they can fly up, and are then safe from 
various kinds of varmints that could get them if on the 
ground. Crooked keel bones are very often caused in that 
way and suffer a cut of from one-half to one point in scor- 
ing. The fluff is very seldom cut as to shape, yet some 
cases occur where it is very scant and should be cut one- 
half point. 

WINCS. 

Wings should be large and well folded. For this sec- 
tion we have a value of four points. The word large, as 
we understand it, refers to the size of the wing when opened 
out. Where the flight feathers are inclined to show nar- 
row and short, the cut should be one-half point. Where 
flights are badly folded and are carried (when wing is closed) 
outside of the secondaries, the cut is from one to one and 
one-half points. When broken feathers in wings are found. 



if but one feather is broken and the shape otherwise is 
good, we cut one-half point and mark the score card on the 
line of wing "broken," but where there are broken feath- 
ers in both of the wings, and they are the same feathers, just 
opposite, we cut from one to one and one-half for such de- 
fect. For a clipped wing where only one is clipped, and the 
opposite wing is all right as to shape, we cut two, but where 
both wings are clipped, the specimen is disqualified, for it is 
unnecessary to cut the wing feathers of both wings in order 
to prevent a bird flying. All that is necessary is to clip one 
wing if no better way can be found to stop them from get- 
ting out. The reason for the severe penalty is that when 
both wings are clipped the feathers are all gone, and some 
objectionable color may have gone with them. We want to 
see the feathers in one wing when color is to be examined, 
and if one does not wish to sacrifice a cut of two points on 
shape of wings, we say do not clip the wing, as it mars the 
shape just the same as to clip off a part of the comb. 

TAIL. 

The tail, as to shape, is valued at four points and should 
be large, full and carried upright. By referring to Brutus 
we find the tail is a trifle low and should be cut one-half 
point. The tail should not be carried forward of a perpen- 
dicular line drawn from the roots of the tail. Where such is 
the case the specimen is disqualified for what is termed 
squirrel tail. We advise breeders to be careful and not breed 
from such a bird, nor show such a one in the show room. 

The tail should also stand straight with the head when 
viewed from in front, as a tail that leans to one side, when 
the specimen is determined to carry it in this position, is 
known as a wry tail, and this is also a disqualification. The 
sickles, or what may be better understood as the two highest 
and longest feathers of the tail, should be long and well 
curved. Wliere they are short and not well curved the cut 
is one-half point, or if one is gone the cut is one point. If 
both are gone, two points. Or if the main tail feathers are 
broken and some are missing the cut is from one-half to one. 
Where the coverts are scanty and fail to fill up against the 
main tail the cut should be from one-half to one, as in de- 
gree. 

LEGS AND TOES. 

Legs and toes are valued at seven points, which include 
both shape and color. If we allow three points to shape we 
certainly do not value them too high, for when we read the 
description, as given in the standard, we find the shanks 
and thighs are both mentioned. The thighs should be of 
medium length and slender; the shanks long. Nothing is 
said as to shape of toes, nor the number there should be on 
each foot. Where we find the thighs and shanks short, 
causing the bird to look somewhat ducklegged, as to length 
we cut from one-half to one; or where the hock joints are 
very close together causing the specimen to stand knock- 
kneed, while the legs extend outward and are well spread 
at the feet, the cuts are from one to one and one-half points. 
In the case of scaly and rough legs, the cuts are from one- 
half to one and one-half, and the bird is subject to a cut 
in the section of condition. As we have stated nothing is 
said as to shape of the toes, yet we understand they should 
be straight, well spread and four in number on each foot. 
The shanks and toes should also be smooth, entirely free 
from feathers or down. Where such appear on the shanks 
or feet the specimen is disqualified. 

SIZE. 

We have omitted to consider the section of size, which 
has a value of ten points. The Leghorn is not subject to a 
weight clause, but is to be determined by comparison. The 
object of this section is to keep such breeds as come un- 
der this section up to about a certain size and not allow 



THE LEGHORNS. 



39 



them to become dwarfed and run down in size. Neither are 
they expected to reach a size that would give them weights 
equal to the American breeds. In scoring, when the speci- 
men is inclined to be small, the cut is from one-half to three 
points, according to size. We might further say that in case 
of a tie if one has been discounted for lack of size and the 
other is passed as being up to the ideal of the judge for size, 
the one so passed on size is to be the winner. 

CONDITION. 

We would also call attention to the section of condition, 
which is valued at five points, and refers to the state of 
health a fowl may be in as well as beauty of plumage. 
Where the comb and wattles show a very pale color, indi- 
cating that the specimen is affected in some way with dis- 
ease, the cut should be from one-half to one; or when the 
head is swollen, caused by cold, the cuts should be from 
one-half to one. Where the comb and wattles are badly 
swollen from being frosted the cut in condition should be 
from one to one and one-half, according to degree. Where 
the plumage is badly broken up and shows no luster, the cut 
should be from one-half to one. In case of very rough and 
scaly legs or corns on the bottom of the feet, showing neg- 
lect and improper tare, the cuts are from one-half to one 
and one-half. 

COLOR or MALE. 

HEAD. 

The color of the plumage on the head should be a dark 
reddish-bay. Where it is found to be of a lemon color, the 
cut is one-half point. The beak should be horn color, and is 
very seldom found defective. The eyes should be bright 
red. Where they are both of a grayish color the cut should 
be one-half point, or, if one eye is of a grayish color 
and the other is of a reddish-bay, the cut should be one 
point. 

The color of the face is frequently found faulty. It 
should be bright rod, yet in Leghorn cocks white will make 
its appearance, and while it is not a disqualification when 
found on the face of cocks, yet it is a defect and subject to a 
severe cut of from one-half to two points, as in degree. 
White appearing in the face of cockerels or pullets is a dis- 
qualification, and of this we wish to say that the standard 
does not mention that there must be a certain amount of 
white in the face before the bird shall be disqualified, but 
simply puts it white in the face. We infer if there is white 
in the face not larger than a common pin head the speci- 
men should be marked out. The white usually appears 
just above the ear-lobes, or, in other words, it will appear to 
crawl over into the face from the ear-lobes, and in some 
cases we have found it under the eyelids, where it did not 
show when the eyes were open. 

EARLOBES. 

We next consider ear-lobes. We find they are valued 
at six points, and if we allow two of the six to go for shape 
we have four left for color. To be standard they should 
be white, or creamy white. Where small red specks ap- 
pear, if only very few, the cut should be one-half point; if 
one-fourth of the surface shows red, the cut should be one 
point. If one-half is red, the cut should be two points; if in 
cockerels or pullets there is more than one-half red the spec- 
imen is termed disqualified. 

NECK. 

The feathers of this section should be bright red,' with 
a black stripe extending down the center of each feather 
and tapering to a point near its extremity. We have before 
us a neck feather which has the perfect stripe; the lacing 
is also perfect on the lower half of the feather. The stripe 
tapers to a point near the lower end, while the upper half 



of the feather is devoid of the red edging and shows blaclc 
on the edge of the feather. The under-color is also good, 
being dark slate. In scoring such a hackle we would cut 
one-half point, inasmuch as the lacing of red does not ex- 
tend the entire length of the web of the feather. Where 
the stripe and lacing are good, and the under-color, which is 
the downy part of the feather, is gray, we should cut one 
point, or if the stripe shows a tendency to gray, with light 
under-color, cut one and one-half points. 

A second feather we examine from the hackle is very 
nearly devoid of the black stripe, the black showing only for 
a short distance from the point end of the feather and grad- 
ually merging into what we term a cinnamon colored feath- 
er. It is also a trifle light in under-color with the lacing 
running too much to a lemon color. For such defects we 
should cut two points. Should the feathers lack the black 
stripe and instead show the full web of the feather a cinna- 
mon color with a trifle of lacing of a lemon color, such as 
the standard calls for in hackles of B. B. R. Game, and the 
under-color is light, we should cut from two to three points, 
as in degree. 

The full value allowed to color of neck is four points. 
We would advise breeders of this variety not to use a male 
for a breeder showing no stripe in neck feathers or one that 
runs very light iu under-color, for if such males are used it 
will only be a matter of a little time until the characteristics 
of the original Leghorn will be found cropping out and 
white will begin to show in wing-flights and secondaries 
and at base of sickles in tails. 

Still another defect in color of hackles, and one that is 
quite often seen, is that the orange-red lacing fails to extend 
around the point of the feather, causing the point or tip to 
end with the black. For such a defect the cuts would be 
from one-half to one point. To breeders of S. C. B. Leg- 
horns we would say, be careful to select a male to breed 
from that shows a well striped hackle, having a greenish 
lustre, being well laced with an edging of brilliant red with 
good dark or slata under-color extending to the skin. 

BACK. 

Color of back is described as being the same as that of 
the neck, yet a standard colored back is not often seen, 
though it is a section of great beauty in Brown Leghorn 
ma)es when fully up to standard description of color. 

A feather lying before us shows what we term standard 
color in saddle feathers with a black stripe, showing the 
greenish sheen or metallic luster, and is laced the entire 
length of the web aloug both edges and around the tip with 
red. The under-color is slate. We are unable by the half- 
tone process to give colors in this breed as we would like to 
have done, for it is impossible to show colors other than 
white and black; consequently we are left to a description in 
words. 

Another feather we have taken from the saddle. It is 
devoid of the black stripe. It has what we call a cinnamon- 
red from one edge to the other, is also light in undei'-color 
and would be cut two points. In case of such surface color 
and very light under-color the cut would be from two and 
one-half to three, as in degree. Four points being allowed 
to color of back, where the shaft of the back or saddle feath- 
ers show a cinnamon color, which should be black, the cuts 
are from one-half to one point. To those not familiar with 
the term shaft, when used in describing feathers, will say it 
is the stem or quill part which extends the entire length 
through the cenier of the feather. 

BREAST. 

The color of. the breast should be a rich black,- yet it is 
sometimes found defective by being mixed with brown or 
showing a lacing of brown on the edge's of the feathers. 



40 



THE LEGHORNS. 



The under-color, which should be dark slate to the 
skin, is very often light in color. Where either or both of 
these defects appear the cuts are from one-half to two and 
one-half, as in degree, four points being allowed to color of 
breast. 

BODY ANO FLUFF. 

The fluff should be black, yet is frequently fring&d with 
brown and the under-color showing light, which should be 
dark, is subject to a cut of from one-half to one and one-ha'.f 
as in degree. 

WINGS. 

The standard color is, bows rich red, front edge black. 
The bows or rose, as we would prefer to term them, usually 
follow the color of the hackle and saddle, except that the 
entire web of the feathers on the wing-bows should be red. 
The edge of the wings, or front part, so to speak, is not 
always found to be black, and is sometimes found to be a 
mixture of brown and black, running over from the same 
color on the breast. Where the specimen shows this mixed 
color on the front edge of the wings the cuts are from 
one-half to one, or, if the bows are not a rich red, from 
one-half to one. We should substitute for the word 
rich red, a glossy red. The primaries should be black, 
the lower web edged with brown. We should not want to 
breed a male that showed no bay or brown on the lower web 
of primaries. 

Primaries are to be cut one and one-halt points for 
white showing at the base or quill end in cocks and should 
the white exceed one-half inch the specimen must be dis- 
qualifiid. while in cockerels the smallest amount of white 
disqualifies. Gray spots or tips of feathers in wings show- 
ing gray will be found in some specimens. For such 
defects the cuts are from one-half to three points. 
Gray, being a mixture of white and black, is considered a 
very serious defect, and where clear white appears in wings, 
except at the base of the primaries in cocks, the specimen 
is disqualified. 

TAIL. 

This section we find has a valuation of four points for 
color, and should be a glossy greenish black. Gray tips 
are sometimes found on feathers, and copper-colored bars 
C!-oss the . feathers, or brown shows on the base of main 
feathers and on coverts. Where gray tips are the only de- 
fect the cuts are from one-half to one, or where slight gray 
appears and the copper barring is prevalent the cut is from 
one to one and one-half points. Where the last two defects 
mentioned appear auCl brown or light under-color shows at 
base of the tail feathers the cuts are from one and one-half 
to three points. The sickles (the two highest and longest 
feathers in the tail) should also be a greenish-black, yet in 
some males white will show up at the base of these feath- 
ers. Where the white exceeds one inch, counting it length- 
wise of the feather, the specimen is disqualified if a cock: 
where the v/hite does not exceed one inch the defect is to be 
cut one and one-half points. In cockerels any portion of the 
feather being white disqualifies. 

tecs AND TOES. 

In this section we have both color and shape combined, 
with a valuation of seven points. The color of plumage on 
the thighs should be black, yet we find it at times mixed 
with brow'n, or the feathers fringed with brown. Or some- 
times we find them fringed with gray. Where such defects 
occur the cut is from one-half to one, as in degree. The 
shanks should be a bright yellow, yet will show on some 
birds a tendency to a flesh color. More especially is this 
true of adult birds, and for such defect we cut from one-half 
to one and one-half points. Where color of shanks shows 
no tendency to yellow the specimen would be disqualified. 
Toes should be yellow, though a dark shading on the upper 



part is allowable. Defective color on toes usually follows 
defective shanks and both are included and discounted ac- 
cordingly, as above stated. Any feathers or down on shanks 
or toes is a disqualification. 

BROWN LEGHORN FEMALE. 

I call attention to the cut on the opposite page of a fe- 
male Single Comb Brown Leghorn which we submit as one 
that, in our opinion, is a very good ideal, yet I do not sup- 
pose it will suit all. It may be criticised by some on account 
of the shape of the right leg. Some others will, no doubt, 
perceive that just as the artist went to take her picture she 
lifted the right foot into the position it now occupies, and 
as a consequence we shall not consider it a fault as to 
shape, since it was the intention of the artist to have it 
as it is. 

HEAD. 

We find it should be in shape similar to that of the 
male, but smaller. Where the head is long and narrow, 
as found on Games, the cuts are from one-half to one point. 
The beak is also to be included with the head, and while no 
mention is m.ade in the standard as to the shape of same. 
it is usually understood that it should be straight with the 
center of the head v/hen viewed from in front, and of med- 
ium length, with upper mandible fairly well curved. 

The face should be free from folds or wrinkles. These 
latter mentioned defects are not often found, yet where they 
appear the cut should be one-half to one. 

I next invite your attention to the color of the head. 
The standard describes the color of the plumage as "brown, 
edged with lighter brown." On some specimens we have 
found the color to be almost black. In such cases we cut 
from one-half to one, or, should the color appear very 
light the cut is one-half. Color of the face is also included, 
and should be bright red. About the only defect in 
the color of the face is that white will appear, in some 
cases, more especially in old hens. Where such a defect is 
found we cut from one-half to one. In pullets it is a dis- 
qualification. 

The eye is also a feature that is always to be consid- 
ered. It should be a bright red, as described in the standard. 
We think the description would have been better to say, 
■eyes, reddish bay."' Where they are of any other color than 
bright red, we are expected to discount them at one-half cut. 
If they vary in color one point is the penalty. The shape is 
seldom found faulty unless an eye is out. In such case we 
cut one point. 

COMB. 

Single, of medium size drooping to one side, free from 
side sprigs and evenly serrated, having five points. By re- 
ferring to the comb on our ideal we notice that the first 
serration is shown to be upright, which no doubt some 
would criticise, and we mention it on that account. In our 
opinion it should have been turned over slightly with the 
others, forming in arch at the front of the comb, but this is 
optional. 

I shall mention some of the defects as found in judging 
the combs of some of the females in this variety. One very 
common defect is found in the front part. Instead of rising 
over the beak and forming the arch with the serrations 
all falling to the same side, the front part will fall across 
the head, as does the comb on a Minorca female, thus form- 
ing a loop. Where the comb is, in our judgment, perfect in 
other respects, we cut for such a defect one point, but in 
most cases where such defect occurs the comb is inclined to 
be too large and is subject to a still greater discount. We 
then cut from one and a half to two points. A comb that is 
also perfect in shape, yet is upright or fails to fall to one 
side, we only discount one-halt point. Some may differ with 




"LADY FLORENCE." 
Bred by James Forsyth, Riverside Farms. 

[Referred to by Mr. Shellabarger.] 
This was one of Mr. Lees best works. It splendidly i''-'^^',- ir/^.T/'JlFln^d tar^pre^aTn't ^e^n^Vea-^sJ 



42 



THE LEGHORNS. 



me on a straight comb female, but there are very few 
breeders of this variety if they will select females with 
combs fairly upright as breeders and mate to a male with a 
medium sized comb that is straight in front and well ser- 
rated who will not find an improvement in the combs of 
male birds over those bred from females that have combs 
larger and which fall on opposite sides of the head. 

Combs falling to one side of the head, as described in 
the standard, are all right on the females in a mating where 
one wishes to produce standard combs on females, but in 
breeding we must study to mate so as to produce standard 
birds, and in order to do so must keep a close tab on the 
bi-eeding stock. In making this statement as to combs, 
there may be those who will differ with me, but I care not 
for that. My opinion is formed after having bred Single 
Comb Brown Leghorns for eight years. These pointers 1 
offer as to mating for best results. 

To return to defective combs, will say, where double ser- 
rations are fc'Und we cut one-half point for each. The back 
edge cf the comb is frequently faulty, having an irregular 
outline with a kind of a sawtooth appearance. For such we 
cut from one-half to one, as in degree. Side sprigs are 
found on some combs and are subject to a cut of one point 
each. Birds possessing this defect are unfit for breeders, if 
the aim of the owner is to breed for standard birds. 

The color of the comb should be bright red and is sel- 
dom found otherwise on a specimen that is in fairly good 
condition. Where the color of the comb is such that it 
should be discounted, the specimen is out of condition and 
better off out of the show room. Yet there are casss where 
they will get out of condition in shipping to the show or 
after they get to the room, and in such cases the cut would 
be only one-half point. 

WATTLES AND EARLOBES. 

Wattles should be thin and well rounded. Where they 
are uneven as to size, or are not well rounded, or where 
they are not smooth, and show folds, the cut is from one- 
half to one and one-half. Ear-lobes represent a greater 
value than wattles and should be smooth, thin, free from 
folds or wrinkles, and fit close to the head. Where they 
are rough or show folds or wrinkles the cut would be from 
one-half to one. Off-color in ear-lobes is the most common 
defect. Where they show red spots, if very few and 
small, the cut is one-half point; if one-fourth of the surface 
is red, the cut should be one; if one-half red, two points; 
if three-quarters red, three points. In pullets more than 
one-half red is a disqualification. 

We find the color mentioned in the standard to be "white 
or creamy white," and in this description we infer that a 
pure white lobe is preferable, yet we are not to discount the 
color where they are creamy white. We usually find on the 
specimen that shows a good yellow skin and shank this 
creamy tinge to the ear-lobes, and on the other hand we have 
found some females with ear-lobes chalk white with a flesh 
colored shank and skin which debars from competition, as 
we shall show further on. We mention this matter for the 
benefit of those who may not understand as to the color cf 
ear-lobes. 

NECK. 

The neck should be long and well arched. Where the 
neck is very short, or if straight and not well arched, or the 
feathers do not fill the outline at juncture of back, causing a 
hollow, the cuts are from one-half to one and one-half. 

Color of neck plumage, orange-yellow with a broad black 
stripe extending down the center of each feather, tapering to 
a point near the end of the feather and conforming to shape 
of the feather. Females in this variety, that are not subject 
to a cut for defective color of neck plumage, are few and far 



between. We find some of the defects are as follows: The 
outer edging of the feathers in some cases shows a reddish 
tinge, more after the color of the necks of males. Especially 
is this true of the color found on the front part of the neck. 
Where such defects appear we cut one-half point. There is 
still another common defect, i. e., the yellow color does not 
extend clear around the lower part of the feather, which 
ends with black and very much mars the desired effect. For 
such defect we cut from one-half to one. The black stripe 
mentioned in the center of the feathers is seldom found 
where it is not subject to discount. Under the standard 
revision of 1888 we had the description of the stripe given 
the same as in the present standard, except that it allowed 
that the same might be slightly penciled with golden brown. 
This penciling, we venture to say, is found on nine:y-nine 
Brown Leghorn hens out of every hundred, taking ihem as 
found the country over. We find then that this is a very 
common defect. Where there is penciling of brown in the 
stripe we cut one-half point, or should there be a stripe on 
each side of the shaft of the feather showing a yellowish or 
buff color, we cut one point. Of this latter defect we advise 
breeders to be careful, as it is such color in females that 
gives us the off color in the hackles of males. 

BACK. 

Shape should be of medium length and slightly cush- 
ioned. We find on some females a tendency, the same as 
found in Games, to a sloping back showing no cushion. For 
such defect we cut from one-half to one, as in degree. A 
crooked or roached back disqualifies. A back that appears 
very long, or one that is very short, we cut from one-half to 
one. The web of feathers should be light brown and finely 
penciled with darker brown. The defects are usually that 
the color is quite dark, showing but little if any of the light 
brown. For such defect we cut from one-half to one. We 
understand that the entire web portion of the feather should 
show those two shades of brown, but we often find the lower 
one-fourth of the web to be very dark, with no penciling. 
The shaft of the feathers in a great many cases will show a 
light color, much lighter than can be termed either a light cr 
dark brown. For this defect we cut one-half point. 

BREAST. 

We next consider breast, which should be round and 
full. We find there is a valuation of six points allowed to 
breast for shape. In many cases the breast will b? found 
flat and not well rounded out at the sides. For such defect 
we cut from one-half to one and a half, as in degree. Color 
of breast siiould be a rich salmon, shading off lighter under 
the body. In some cases we find the web of the feathers 
penciled with dark brown, or we find them very light. In 
some specimens there is found a tendency to show a lacing 
on the edges of the feathers. For such defects we cut from 
one-half to one and a half. 

BODY AND FLUFF. 

The body should be of medium length, deep and plump. 
Where the body is very long or if it be short, or narrow 
through and not plump we cut from one-half to one. Should 
the fluff be very scanty we cut one-half. The plumage of 
the body should be light brown, while that of the fluff is de- 
scribed as ashy brown. In some specimens we find the fluff 
too dark, while in others there is a tendency to run too light. 
For either of these defects we cut one-half point. We omit- 
ted to meniion in shape of body that where the keel bone 
is not straight the cut is from one-half to one. We think 
this should be included with breast, as most judges discount 
a crooked keel bone and put the outs with breast shape. 
But in the standard it comes imder the head of body. 



THE LEGHORNS. 



43 



WINGS. 

Wings should be large and well folded. Where they are 
small when opened out and not up to the average size, or if 
feathers are broken or have been pulled out, or where they 
are not properly folded when closed, the outs are from one- 
half to two points. A wing is not perfect in shape where a 
part has been cut oft, no more than as though one would cut 
off a. part of the comb or any other section. A great many 
persons appear to think that because they have clipped off a 
part of the feathers of a wing to keep the bird from flying, 
it should not be cut for defective shape in scoring, but when 
we come to carefully consider this matter no section that 
would otherwise have been perfect should be so considered 
when a part is gone. 

The primary or large flight feathers are described as 
being "slaty brown, the edge slightly penciled with lighter 
color. Secondaries, brown, the outer web finely penciled 
with lighter brown." We think the reading of the color for 
secondaries should have been "outer web finely penciled 
with dark brown," instead of light brown, as the same color, 
in our opinion, should be called for on back, wings, coverts, 
and on outer web of secondaries. We find on the outer web 
of secondaries of some females what is called a brick color, 
yet as there are several colors of brick, we shall call it a 
pale red. We also find it on wing coverts. For such defect 
we cut from one-half to one point, according to degree. 

We also find grey spots in primaries on some specimens; 
also grey tips to some of the feathers. Where such defects 
occur the cut is hard, as in such defects we are approaching 
close to the line of a disqualification, and must cut from one- 
half to three points, according to the degree of defect. Where 
white appears in any part of the plumage the specimen is 
disqualified. We do not have any exceptions in the standard 
for white in the plumage of the female, and only in males in 
the sections we mentioned in our article on color of males. 

TAIL. 

The tail should be long and full and carried upright. 
Where the tail is not carried well up, or if part of the feath- 
ers are gone or broken off, or where the coverts do not fill 
well up against the tail, causing the main tail feathers to 
look long and naked, we cut from one-half to one and one- 
half. A tail that is carried forward so as to approach the 
back of neck, is termed a squirrel tail and is to be disquali- 
fied. Where the specimen persists in carrying its tail to one 
side, as viewed from in front, it has a wry tail, but it must 



be decidedly wry in order to disqualify the bird. If the spec- 
imen is given full liberty and is not cramped in a small coop 
so it can take a natural position, we can ascertain whether 
the specimen is or is not wry tailed. 

The color of the main tail should be a dull black, except 
the two highest feathers, which should be penciled with 
light, brown. The covercs should be light brown, penciled 
with dark brown. We find at the base of the main tail 
feathers on some females a penciling of brown, and on some 
we find the covens lack penciling, or we may flnd on the tips 
of the main feathers some grey. For such detects we cut 
from one-half to one and a half. 

LEGS AND TOES. 

We come next to consider legs and toes. Thighs should 
be of medium length and slender; shanks long and slender. 
We believe it is a fact that fully seventy-flve per cent of the 
Leghorns are too short when it comes to length of thighs 
and shanks. There are but few breeders who have given 
them careful consideration who will not say that a fine spec- 
imen is greatly deficient when put on the average speci- 
men's short legs. We also, as a rule, find that those with 
short shanks are not slender but rather coarse. We cut for 
such defects from one-half to one. Or if the hocks are not 
fairly well apart, or if there is a tendency to what is called 
knock-kneed, with the former mentioned defects we cut one 
and a half. 

The shape and number of toes are not mentioned, yet we 
find four toes are the characteristic of the breed for each 
foot. We also presume they should be well spread. Where 
they are crooked we think they should be discounted from 
one-half to one, according to degree of defect. 

We find the color of plumage on thighs should be ashy 
brown. They are sometimes tipped with dark, and in some 
cases with grey. Where such defects occur we would cut 
one-half point. 

The color of the shanks and toes should be a bright yel- 
low, but in hens we very frequently find them faded and 
bleached out until the yellow does not show much. In such 
cases the cat is from one-half to one and a half. Where 
they show no tendency to yellow the specimen is termed 
disqualified, and should any feathers, no matter how smaU, 
or should even down, appear on the shanks or between the 
toe.s, the same is a disqualification. 

F. H. SHELLABARGER. 






MATING SINGLt COMB BROW IS LtGHORNS. 



The Double Mating System Strongly Advised— Details of Shape and Color for Male and Female Breeders— The 
Question of Size Advanced— Large Combs, which Follow the Neck, Deprecated. 



By T. F. McGrew. 



WE PRESUME there is the smallest number of high 
class specimens pi'oduced each year in Brown 
Leghorns, in proportion to the total number bred, 
of any of our standard fowls. The high finish of 
the few reaiiy meritorious sepcimens should put to shame 
the countless throng of less favored members of this beauti- 
ful and valuable variety. Females are seen in the show pen 
of such moderate size as to tempt one to call them Bantams, 
and their reputation as egg producers has not advanced to 
keep pace with new competing varieties; this is certainly 
a shortcoming that should be remedied, and no doubt will 
be, as many are moving to their improvement of form and 
feather. 

One feature most deserving of attention in this breed is 
size. Our standard allows but six points out of one hundred 
for the size or weight section, in our American and Asiatic 
breeds, but for the Mediterranean class we allow ten points 
or one-tenth of the whole scale of points. If size is of so 
much more importance in a Brown Leghorn than a Brahma 
why has it been so neglected, or is it to be supposed that 
size with lieghorns means small size? 

This feature cf the general make-up of the Leghorn 
should have our first attention, and by care in selecting the 
very largest females only as breeders we can build up the 
size and add vigor to their constitution, so giving them re- 
newed power for a greater egg production. Brown Leghorn 
females should weigh at least five and one-half pounds. We 
have seen birds of good quality weigh as follows: Males, 
seven pounds; females, six and one-half pounds each. Such 
Leghorns are a credit to their race and should be encour- 
aged on all sides. If it is our intention to be guided by the 
laws of our own creation, we should encourage more size in 
the Brown Leghorn fowl. 

Formerly it was claimed that the Leghorn was as large 
as an egg-producing fowl should or could be to stand the 
strain of their great activity and carry the weight and as- 
similate the quantity of food needed to sustain them and the 
process of egg production. A full acquaintance with the 
Minorca, Black and White, the Ancona and Andalusian, 
members of the same family, shows the possibility of the 
Mediterranean fowl to have both size and egg-producing 
qualities. Those who favor the Minorca claim for them 
even greater egg-producing power than is present with the 
Brown Leghorn. Records that have been published prove 
that fowls having considerable more size are their full riv- 
als in filling the egg basket. These statements are made 
simply to show that the smaller size is not necessary to a 
better egg production. 

The method to follow to improve the size of our Brown 
Leghorns is to use as breeders the largest hens obtainable, 
as the greater size comes largely from the female. This is 
not an admission that small males are as useful as large 
ones, but a medium size male bird with large hens will pro- 
duce larger offspring than the larger male with the smaller 
females. By selecting the largest hens obtainable we have 
the advantage of both size and maturity. It is no longer a 



debated question, as to whether hens or pullets are best for 
producing valuable stock. The decision has long since been 
cast in favor of the hen. 

The round, full breast and the development of abdomen 
is a feature of the greatest importance in a Leghorn. By 
this we do not wish to be understood as referring to the ill- 
proportioned or over-developed abdomen as seen on some 
over-fat hens of the larger breeds, but the well-proportioned 
abdomen of an active egg-producing hen. The body and 
back of the Leghorn is medium in length as compared with 
a Minorca. In the male the breast should be round, full and 
carried well forward; in the female also the full, round 
brtast is demanded, showing the importance of same in the 
breed. In selecting hens to advance or increase the size pay 
special attention to these sections and do not select the short 
coupled hens. There cannot at this time be any possible 
danger of having them too long in body, for but few can be 
seen that come fully up to the demand of medium in length, 
so no danger is possible at the present time of having too 
much length of body if all other proportions are correct. 

Another great help to increased size is to hatch them 
early and feed for bone and size, the greatest growth possi- 
ble should be obtained during the first four months. Their 
natural tendency is to lay early, or, in other words, when 
young. Many of them lay at five months old, and for this 
very reason they should be fed for size prior to this time. 
Those that make the largest growth will most likely be 
slower to laj^ These should be selected for future breeders 
to improve size. 

At all times be fully informed as to which of your flock 
are the largest egg-producers, and make this one of the re- 
quirements in selecting the hens for the breeding stock; 
work hand in hand for both increased size and egg produc- 
tion, for both can be improved at the same time. It is quite 
as important that the male should be from egg-producing 
line? as for the females. The attention paid to the increased 
milk and butter yield of our cows has shown the great influ- 
euca of the sire in this direction. Why not the same influ- 
ence of the sire in egg-producing offspring? 

COLOR REQUIREMENTS. 

A rich, brilliant red for neck, back and saddle in males, 
rich orange yellow for neck of females, is the standard re- 
quirement at the present time. With this the female must 
have the rich salmon breast. The hackle and saddle of male 
should be plainly striped with black; it is quite useless to 
object to this, and place yourself as an obstructionist in the 
path of improvement. Well do we remember when it was 
necessary to disqualify for same to get rid of clay-colored 
breasts in Partridge Cochin hens, and while the new stand- 
ard has set aside a large number of the so-called old-fash- 
ioned style of Brown Leghorns, those who know the full 
value of their existence guard their presence with care. 

The former standard allowed orange red in hackle and 
saddle of male and with this it was quite natural to secure 
good neck color in females, but it will be found utterly im- 
possible to produce good, high-class Brown Leghorn females 



THE LEGHORNS. 



45 



by using a staudard-colored male in the breeding pen. They 
can and will oe produced under the double-mating system. 
HOW THE MALES ARE PRODUCED. 

To produce the best quality of color in Brown Leghorn 
males, according to the rules of the present standard, and at 
the same time avoid white or gray in any part of plumage, 
requires a special mating the description of which will 
plainly show the impossibility of producing to any certainty 
both males and females from such a mating, at the same 
time the union as described will plainly show its ability to 
produce good colored males. 

While it is simply a question of color we have under con- 
sideration, it may be to the advantage of some to mention a 
few guiding features as to the selection 
of the male. There are some features of 
comb often lost sight of in Leghorns. 
These points are — medium in size and 
with no tendency to follow the shape of 
the neck. A Minorca comb is just the 
opposite. When judging a large class 
of Leghorns a short time since, an 
owner said, "I see you don't like big 
conibs on males, and that you are 
against combs that follow the neck." 
"No," said I. "The standard, not I. op- 
poses thtrn." Too many such points 
are overlooked by breeders who allow 
a preference to prevent their follow- 
ing the law. 

The comb of the male bird selected 
for producing males must in every par- 
ticular point, as nearly as possible, 
conform tc the description in the stan- 
dard. The earlobe should be of good 
size, line shape, very smooth and white, 
and fit close to the head, with no 
wrinkles. It should be as flat as possi- 
ble. A perfect head, comb, wattles and 
earlobes is of great importance, and 
should be as perfect as possible, and a 
bird that has many shortcomings in 
these sections should not be used as a 
sire. Back, tail and wings should set 
in perfect conformity, and breast 
should be prominent, round and full. 
The body must be nicely poised upon 
shanks of the proper length. The stan- 
dard says rather long, but this does 
not mean stilty or game length of legs, 
but rather long if compared , with a 
squatty Leghorn. 

The color of neck, back and saddle 
shauld be the same even shade of 

rich brilliant red. as you bend the head back and move 
the hackle plumage over the back td the saddle no per- 
ceptible difference of color should be present. The hackle 
and saddle should be very plainly striped with the most per- 
fectly shaped greenish black stripes that taper to the 
point, the red about the stripe free from shading of any 
kind; wing bay and wing bar bright and prominent; shanks 
as rich a yellow as can be obtained. The color of the Black 
Red Game leg in the days of the so-called Earl Derby 
Games was yellow, but they had very light under-color and 
white flights usually. To have a black red positively free 
from even gray in plumage, must influence the color of leg, 
which is plainly shown in our Brown Leghorns as the dusky 
yellow that is allowable on toes, creeps slowly up the 
shank. 



FEMALES FOR THIS MATING. 

The females to be used in this mating must be very dark 
in color, the neck color as much of the reddish shade as can 
be obtained; the stripe in same as dark and prominent as 
possible; the whol'? body plumage, including the breast, the 
same dark brown color. No salmon breast is found upon 
the females that are used most successfully in producing the 
standard males; the under-color of some of these females is 
almost absolute black, and the surface color rather a brown- 
ish black, which shows the opposite to the wording of the 
standard for females. This very dark shade extends through 
almost the whole web of the feather and is simply powdered 
over with a showing of a lighter shade of color, the whole 




ELniUflNY 



style of Leghorn Female Advocated by Mr. McCrew to Increase the Size end Egg 

Production. 

Note len^tli of back and development of abdomen — Legs are coar.se. 

surface color of female, including breast, is many shades 
darker in color than would be allowed for the back color of 
a female in the show room. The color of flights, secondar- 
ies, and main tail feathers, is considerably darker than 
standard color, if almost black, so much the better. Th:s 
style of female is the key to success in the production of 
high class prize winning Brown Leghorn males. 

The ccmb of the female used in this mating for best re- 
sults must stand erect — no turning to either side -and the 
points and serrations should be nicely proportioned and of 
the standard number. A smooth, even, upright comb of this 
style on the female used in the mating for males helps con- 
siderably in the quality of the offspring's comb. The males 
and females from these matings should be carefully toe 
marked and used only for producing males, for they will 



46 



THE LEGHORNS. 



most certainly destroy the color lines of any female produc- 
ing strain into which they are introduced. 

MATINGS FOR FEMALES. 

The real beauty of the high-class standard bred show 
specimen of the Brown Leghorn female is her true breed 
characteristics and the soft, even shade of color when found 
in perfection. These true colored specimens are becoming 
scarcer each day, the result of the tendency for higher color 
in the males and the absolute law as to color disqualifica- 
tions, as stated by us many times. We too often lose sight 
of the perfection of finish on a most beautifully colored bird 
in our unyielding desire to disqualify for one or two off- 
colored feathers; bad color or even poor color is passed with 
a discount, but the most exquisite colored specimen is utter- 
ly annihilated if placed in the show pen by one who has 
overlooked a few off-colored spots. Just how to produce 
Brown Leghorn females with this attractive finish of color is 
the problem under consideration. Believing as many do the 
utter impossibility of producing both males and females of 
the present standard color from one mating, the only method 
to be followed is to have the separate matings for each, and 
in following this method build up a strain of true pullet pro- 
ducing Brown Legliorns. This can be done if care and judg- 
ment are used iu the selection of our foundation stock, and in 
doing this we must guard against the disqualifications for 
shanks other than yellow, and white or gray in any part cf 
plumage. 

THE FEMALES FOR THIS MATING. 

For producing females select hens or pullets of the most 
perfect standard color through and through; see to it that 
your neck color is as true as possible: see that the orange 
yellow border is quite free from any shading of foreign 
color — if quite free from penciling of any kind it is mcst 
desirable. The producing of neck plumage free from pen- 
ciling is quite a task; see to it that the stripe in same is 
well placed in the center of the feather; that it has the 
proper taper and ending near the point of the feather. There 
are plenty to be found that are fairly good in this resp»ct; 
cast them aside for the almost absolutely correct neck plum- 
age; better trust for a start to one or two that are right than 
to waste time and trouble on flocks of fairly good ones. 

The body plumage, including back, wing bow and cov- 
erts, one even color, very finely penciled with a darker 
shade; the shafting of the feather absolutely unseen; the 
body some lighter In shade that the back; the whole surface 
to be free from any shading or cast of a reddish brown or 
any color other than the proper standard shade. The shade 
of color and penciling of primaries, secondaries and main 
tail feathers should be perfect. The breast should be a rich 
salmon nicely shading off to a lighter color under the body. 
As to the color of back, etc., we find many opinions as to 
just the shade of color meant by the wording of the stand- 
ard. There being so many shades of brown found among 
Leghorn females one is at a loss to say just the word to de- 
scribe the shade intended, but the provision that no uneven- 
ness of color shading or shafting be allowed, will confine the 
color to perfect evenness of shade, and that shade the same 
color as the shaft of the feather. This being considered, the 
shade of color must become a matter of preference within 
the radius of the rule — 'Light brown, finely penciled with a 
darker brown, the lighter shade predominating." 

The head and comb of the female selected should be as 
handsome as possible, the comb should hang gracefully to 
one side, the front spike standing erect. The comb must 
not be large and heavy, like that of the Minorca. It must be 
medium in size and finely formed; earlobe smooth, thin as 
possible, of good size, perfectly white and fitting closely to 



the head; free from any sign of red; face free from any 
white. The use of hens that have no sign of white in face 
helps to insure the absence of same in the progeny. White 
in face comes with age to all Leghorns; many pullets that 
show no sign of it at eight months old often have it before 
they are a year old. The use of matured birds showing no 
signs of white helps to lessen its tendency. 

To lessen the chances of white or gray in plumage the 
use of specimens having good solid under color is of advant- 
age, at the same time the darker the under color the deeper 
will be the shade of surface color. The richest shade of sur- 
face color often carries with it the lighter shade of under 
color. All these points should have consideration in ad- 
vance, for they all have influence on the future offspring. As 
to color of shanks, it is quite noticeable that they are grad- 
ually growing darker each year. The only way to improve 
this is to select the best to be found with specimens having 
the other necessary features above mentioned. 

THE MALES FOR THIS MA TING. 

The selecting of a proper male bird for this mating ne- 
cessitates, flrst of all, the absolute certainty that he comes 
in line from good standard colored females and not from the 
dark colored matings used for producing males. The color 
of hackle and saddle should be of orange red, the back 
much paler in color than the standard shade, the less prom- 
inent the striping of hackle and saddle the better. Wishing 
to secure the orange yellow in neck of females guides one to 
the use cf the nearer shade to same in the males. Good 
head qualities are most desirable in the male; a tendency in 
comb to lop to one side is of advantage when such help is 
needed in your females. The under color of plumage in the 
male can be considerably lighter in shade of color than is 
demanded for producing males, a tendency to gray in neck 
and saddle under-color, shows the absence of the deep dark 
color so positively demanded in the standard colored male 
and this lighter under color has a tendency to soften the 
surface color of your pullets, but must not be too much in- 
dulged in for fear of affecting the flights and under color of 
females produced. Such males usually have more perfect 
coior of beak and shank, which is quite a help in improving 
ihe color of these sections in your females, a feature that 
claims some advantages when under consideration in the 
show pen. No feature in their make-up carries more influ- 
ence in their favor than a beautiful head and bright colored 
shanks and every one who looks upon a specimen that has 
these two features to the degree of excellence, remarks at 
once as to their beauty, showing the influence they have on 
all observers. It will be found quite a task to hold the yel- 
low color of shanks and gain the brilliancy of color de- 
manded in males, for which reason it is quite important to 
take all advantage possible under these special matings to 
improve same. 

LINE BREEDING A NECESSITY. 

Very close records must be kept in the handling of your 
stock under these methods, so as not only to know the strain 
to which each belongs, but the sire and dam of each individ- 
ual, must be known to continue to improve, both shape, size, 
color and markings. This knowledge gives you the advant- 
age of knowing the very individual that has produced the 
quality desired, and guides you with greater certainty to im- 
prove each year. 

The day may come when the Brown Leghorn female will 
have the penciled breast, as with the Partridge Cochin. This 
will not be as hard to obtain as the salmon breast. Its adop- 
tion would remove some of the hardships of their produc- 
tion, and at the same time take from them one of their 
striking beauties. T. F. McGREW. 



BREEDING SINGLE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS. 



A Successful Lady Exhibitor Gives Details of Mating, Especially for Saddle Striping on Males^Llne Breeding the 

Only Way— The Double Mating System Advocated— Desirable Shades of Color In the Various 

Sections of Males and Females for Cockerel and for Pullet Matlngs. 

By Mrs. Robert Waldron. 



ALTHOUGH this article is to treat mainly the above 
subject, I cannot resist the temptation to say a 
few words in favor of the breed, and to correct an 
idea that so many people have about their "wild- 
ncss." I frequently hear people say, "I would like them, but 
they are so wild; you cannot get within ten feet of them." 
This may be true of the average mongrel, and perhaps of 
many thoroughbreds, but in the latter case I am sure it is 
the fault, some way, of the owner. While it is true that they 
are by nature a shy, nervous breed, with care they can be 
made as tame as any other breed, while still retaining their 
quick motions or very active habits. The one thing neces- 
sary for that result is never to frighten them. Go into their 
peiis quietly, and if you can pick one up without chasing it, 
ttien pet it a little and set it down again, carefully, you 
will soon find you have their confidence. When I go into 
my pen among them I often find it difficult to walk without 
stepping on their feet, they crowd around me so. Some in- 
dividual birds always put themselves in my way, and seem 
anxious to be handled, and act as if they liked to be petted. 
By stooping among them, I have often had five or six snug- 
gi,:d close around my knees at once, standing passive with- 
out being ,ield, each waiting her turn to be stroked and han- 
dled. 

In writing the above I have been having my pullets in 
mind, but even my cockerels are not wild; they are easily 
caught, and when caught do not show much fear. Once get 
a Leghorn pullet tame (and really it has often been a sur- 
prise to see how little it takes to tame some of mine), and 
they seem tamer, and more like pets, than some of the larger 
breeds. Then they are such beautiful pets, and so pert look- 
ing, with bright eyes peeping up at you from the shelter of 
their blood-red combs. Who would not love them? 

BUY THE BEST AND PRACTICE DOUBLE MATING. 

The breeding and mating of Single Comb Brown Leg- 
horns is a study that may well engage all one's powers of 
observation, reasoning, and deduction; yet I am asked to set 
it all down in black and white, just how, and why, and when 
— "particularly my method of producing the saddle striping 
in the male." The inference is delightfully flattering, and 
as the human mind from time immemorial has been suscep- 
tible to flattery (particularly the feminine mind, it is said), 
I have no resource but compliance, so far as in me lies. 

To begin, then, at the beginning — You must first have 
birds worth mating and breeding from. This is fully as im- 
portant as the catching of the hare mentioned in the famous 
recipe for cooking it. Years of careful and most painstaking 
breeding by those truly gifted in that line, together with sci- 
entific study of the principles involved, have placed within 
our reach a stock which will reproduce certain well-defined 
characteristics. With so much already accomplished, it 
would be folly indeed not to avail ourselves of that which 
the best of the world's fanciers and breeders have provided 
for us. Therefore I say, first .get the best that is to be had. 



Do not waste time and money trying to get it cheaply, 
though as a matter of fact a bird at a long price may be the 
cheapest in the land, if measured by his worth as a breeder, 
and the foundation of a strain of exhibition stock. 

Let us suppose, then, that you have begun by buying 
only a few choice birds, or, what I think for the amateur is 
better, a sitting or two of the choicest eggs that the best 
breeders will sell you. If they have an especially good mat- 
ing for which they ask a dollar or two extra, do not hesitate 
to buy if only you have confidence in the breeder. 

The first question that arises is that of double or single 
matings. Is it best to try to produce top notch birds of 
both sexes from the same pen, or to mate widely differing 
types in two separate pens, expecting your best males from 
one mating and your best females from the other? From 
the standpoint of experience, and all infonnation at my 
command, I say you must practice double mating. The 
single mating economizes room and is a simpler method of 
breeding, but it is not yet a practical success in producing 
winners of both sexes. I have produced an occasional prize 
winner in the male line from a mating which also gave me 
fair to good females, yet I know that these results came 
fiom the diftering types of females in the pen, which made 
in reality a double mating, though only one male bird was 
used. Wlien I can see !)o-point birds of both sexes produced 
from one and the same pair, then I shall rejoice in the suc- 
cess of the single mating; until such a time I will pin my 
faith to the double mating as long as I wish to produce ex- 
hibition specimens. 

COCKEREL MATINCS. 

In making up your pens study well your birds with the 
aid of your standard, which you ought to have by heart, as 
far as your specialty is concerned. What says the standard 
as to the comb of the male? Has your best male bird a comb 
approaching this ideal? If not, he must be extra fine in 
other respects to overcome his lack of this. A cockerel 
breeding male must have striking merit in his comb. I 
would rather breed from a bird having a four-point comb 
than one having six or seven points. With a well-shaped 
four-point comb your cut in the show room may be only one- 
half on comb, but the added size and weight of two or three 
extra points is liable to cost you another half point besides 
the increased tendency to lopping of comb. I have a theory 
— mind, only a theory — that it is easier to breed an addi- 
tional serration on a comb than to get rid of one. 

If your male has more or less points on his comb than 
he siiould have, be more careful to see that his mates have 
the correct number, as far as possible, consistent with other 
qualities. If we want medium sized, stout, straight, and 
erect combs on males, the females that are to produce them 
should have small, straight and erect combs. The standard 
type of female comb will not do at all, and should only be 
accepted when overbalanced by pronounced excellencies in 



48 



THE LEGHORNS. 



some other section. The law of averages applies all through, 
and you must strive to overcome deficiencies and defects in 
the male by excellence in the corresponding section of the 
female, and vice versa. Apply the same rules in turn to the 
shape of the head, and to its other appendages; eye, shape 
and color; beak, shape and color: wattles and lobes, shaps. 
size, color and texture. 

Next comes the neck, one of the most important sections 
to be considered in breeding for beauty of the male. The 
standard demands rich, brilliant red, with a distinct black 
stripe running through the center, and custom demands that 
the black have a lustrous green sheen, same as the standard 
color for the breast of the male. To a male bird coming as 
closely as possible to this color of neck, mate females which 
had male ancestors also noted for excellence in this section. 
Also see that the females are themselves as well striped as 
possible. 

The illustrations of male and female hackle feathers 
shown herewith may assist you in selecting the right kind 
of birds. [The illustration referred to is shown on page 31. 
The full-page plate represents feathers plucked from Mrs. 
Waldron's birds.— Editor.] Of course these feathers are 
more perfect than you can hope to find, except on the very 
best and highest priced specimens, and even on those you 
should not expect to find all feathers of the same degree of 
excellence. 

Here, again, I wish to impress upon you the folly of fail- 
ing to avail oneself of the results of long years of patient 
and loving labor and study, which have brought this section 
to so high a degree of perfection in the best exhibition males, 
doubtless you can "breed up," as others have done, but think 
of the wasted years. Secure a foundation stock that will 
give rich and quick results. 

The back of the male is of a rich and brilliant red in 
surface color. On the best specimens you will find the beau- 
tiful black centers in the back feathers, the edges being rich 
and brilliant dark red and the feathers overlapping in a way 
that makes the back of the bird present an even red surface 
color, extremely beautiful in richness and brilliancy. The 
standard gives no separate description of back and saddle 
feathers further than to say " same as the hackle." The 
downy portion of the feather in this section, as in all others 
should be of an even, clear and rather dark slaty color, thus 
conforming to the standard definition of under color. For 
females in this mating I prefer those having the darkest 
possible under color, backs very much darker than standard 
color, and a little shafting, or even more than a little, will 
do no harm. As for the surface color of the back, I have 
not found any females too dark for cockerel breeders if only 
the color is clear. The saddle of the male is of the same 
color and striping as the hackle. The difference is in the 
shape of the feathers, the saddle feathers being longer in 
proportion, and more slender and graceful in their outlines. 
Few are the breeders who have had any notable success with 
this section. Why, I cannot say. It does not seem to me 
that there can bo any greater inherent difficulty in produc- 
ing a well-striped saddle than a hackle of the same quality, 
so it must be, I think, that not the same degree of attention 
has been given it in the past history of the breed. However, 
the fact remains that while good to fancy hackles are now 
the rule in the show room, the number of well striped sad- 
dles is very small; hence the increased value of really fine 
specimens. The feathers shown here are from haclile, sad- 
dle and back of "Eli," an unusually fine cock, and a remark- 
able sire of cockerels. This bird and five of his sons com- 
prised the half dozen males shown by me at Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa, January 15-20, 1900, of which favorable mention was 
made in the Reliable Poultry .Journal for March of that 



year. It is needless to say that "Eli" is not for sale, his 
vaUn as a sire is too great. 

In mating to produce the striping in the saddle of the 
exlnbition male one must be governed by the same general 
principles laid down in mating for standard requirements in 
other sections. However, it being admitted in advance that 
excellence in this section is more rare than in any other, the 
logical conclusion is, that one wishing to produce fine sad- 
dles must pay greater attention to selecting birds for their 
known breeding quality in this direction. As I have shown, 
without a male at the head of the pen of strong breeding, 
and reproductive capacity, your labor will probably be 
largely in vain. Having such a male bird at the head of the 
pen your females should be of the same ancestry, if possible, 
but not too closely related. Here the great advantage of 
line-breeding comes in, but that is a topic that only inciden- 
tally has a bearing on this subject, being of equal import- 
ance, no matter what you breed. It is enough to say in pass- 
ing, that if your stock is the best you can get, you liave 
already secured the advantage of line-breeding. It then de- 
pends on yourself to hold that advantage, and improve on it 
if you can. 

The saddle of the females should be very dark, and in 
this section I do :iot care so very much for penciling. In- 
deed, if I were going to formulate a standard for the saddle 
of females for cockerel breeders, I think it would run some- 
thing like this: "Saddle feathers to be of a dark seal brown 
shade, with more or less penciling of a somewhat lighter 
shade, feathers having a tendency to show black centers; no 
objection to heavy and distinct shafting; under color to be 
as dark a slaty color as it is possible to obtain, so long as it 
is clear, and free from any tendency to streaking or imutti- 
ness." 

As to the remaining sections of the male, I do not know 
of anything calling for especial consideration, other than to 
conform as closely as one can to the standard; so I think we 
may dismiss this branch of the subject, and take up the one 
of pullet mating. 

PULLET MATINCS. 

In this I follow the same rule as in the cockerel mating, 
selecting my breeders carefully for their individual excel- 
lence, and always with as much weight given to ancestry as 
to the visible points. Other things being equal, it might be 
more correct to nay I would consider ancestry of first im- 
portance — a most careful balancing of defects, by corre- 
sponding excellence on the other side of the mating, must 
again be insisted upon. On no account mate two birds that 
have like defects in corresponding sections. You simply 
double the tendency to reproduce those defects, instead of 
halving it, as you should do. Having noted these general 
■principles in which the mating for exhibition females is the 
same as for males, let us consider the points of variance. In 
comb we note the first wide differing of ideals. The comb of 
the female has of course the same number of points or ser- 
rations, but where the male gets a cut for any slight ten- 
dency to turning or lopping of the comb, the female should 
have a comb distinctly lopping to one side, evenly and 
gracefully, yet firm; erect at the base, and just as erect at 
the base in front, as is the comb of the exhibition male. 
This is the way the best judges interpret the standard. 

In this mating the comb of the male may be too large 
for an exhibition male, and too thick at base, too thin at top, 
and may have a decided tendency to lop (to one side only); 
indeed, I prefer such a comb in the male for breeding pul- 
lets, but do not like a crooked one, or a badly shaped one, 
as for instance, one having bad thumb marks, or badly 
shaped or indistinct serrations. In the neck section the 
female will be good, if a high scoring specimen. Better 



THE LEGHORNS. 



49 



hackles on females are greatly demanded, and steady im- 
provement is being made. The male, in this section, may 
have much lighter color than would be needed for cockerel 
matings; indeed, the color of the male, all through, at least 
the surface color, should be much lighter than for a cockerel 
mating. In the color of the wing bow of females you must 
guard against "brickiness," or in other words, too much red. 
If your females are fine they will not show this much, that 
is to say, the better they are the nearei- they will have wings 
like back, all alike of that soft, even, velvety light brown, 
finely penciled by a darker shade of brown. This is the 
standard requirement, though I have elaborated it some- 
what to correspond with customary interpretation of judges 
and fanciers. Any excess of dark color in the male may 
defeat the purpose of your mating. The brilliant, dark 
orange red wing bow, so desirable in a male for a cockerel 
mating, is not wanted in the pullet mating. A softer and 
lighter color is better, one shading more toward golden 
brown. This applies also to the back of the male. Then, 
when we come to the saddle, as we do not wish to pi-oduce a 
sLripe in the female, we prefer not to have any in the male 
breeder. Of course we can scarcely hope to find a good bird 
in other ways that shows absolutely no stripe in his saddle, 
but the best specimens from pullet matings will show but 
little and that, in most feathers, only faintly outlined. The 
tendency to a light golden brown is desirable here. 

As to the females for this mating, it will pay to examine 
most carefully the entire backs, wings, saddle, and tail cov- 
erts. Select those that are penciled well and evenly in all 
these sections, and remember that the penciling should 
run down to the fluffy part of the feather, at which point the 
color should change abruptly to a clear dark slate of the 
under color. In the breast of the female look for a clear 
rich salmon color, as evenly laid on as possible, not too 
dark, neither too light, nor too red. In many otherwise 
good birds there will be a decided tendency to a shade too 
dark, and red, in this section, especially in the upper part, 
and extending along upon the neck and throat. Guard 
against this as far as you are able. 

TYPICAL SHAPE— UTILITY AND BEAUTY. 

In regard to shape, carriage and station, I would ad- 
vise careful study of the ideals illustrated by the leading 
poultry artist, Mr. Franklane L. Sewell, and published in 



this book. When you have these ideals photographed in 
your miud, and always with you, judge your breeding speci- 
mens by these ideal types of male and female, and approach 
them as nearly as you can. If you cannot do this, have the 
ideal cuts handy for reference, when you are mating your 
b.'rdK. 

A few words on a subject on which I think there is wide- 
spread misapprehension. Beauty and utility, within reason- 
able limits, go together. The Brown Leghorn stands in the 
front rank as an egg producer. I am glad to be able to say 
that my most beautiful and highest scoring pullets have al- 
most invariably been my best layers. This proves that the 
standard requiremeut.s, evolved from the thought and ex- 
perience of hundreds of breeders, are based on reason and 
common sense, and shows in marked degree the value of 
breeding and selection with a view to special excellence in 
the way of egg production. It also proves the eminently 
practical construction of the American Standard of Perfec- 
tion. 

In the near future, trap nests, individual egg records, 
and more careful pedigree breeding will no doubt produce 
greater results than ever before in the closer wedding of 
fancy and utility. The public will appreciate the importance 
of this painstaking labor, which cannot be done wthout 
adding somewhat to the expense of breeding, and to the cost 
of choice birds bred in this manner. 

In closing, let me say that I hope nothing written here 
will discourage any one, or give the idea that this breed is 
more difficult to handle than many others. In an article of 
this kind one must go much into detail, and I have tried to 
show the ends to be sought in mating, and have wished to 
hold up the ideal, the one hundred point bird, to your view, 
but as this ideal bird has never yet been produced in any 
breed, do not be discouraged when you do not find them tor 
your matings. Get the best you can and mate them as well 
as you can. 

When buying stock, remember that two pairs of really 
valuable birds are actually worth more to you as a founda- 
tion than two dozen of just ordinary good ones. Your flock, 
if mated and handled right, will be worth several times as 
much at the end of two or three years with the two pairs 
as with the two dozen inferior birds. "Get the most you can 
for your money," but let this apply to quality, not quantity. 

MRS. ROBERT WALDRON. 



THE SIISGLE COMB BROWN LLC H ORIS. 



Observe Closely the Characteristics of the Breed and Study Each Generation— Single Mating Preferred, Although 
It Is Acknowledged that for Present Day Show Requirements Double Mating Is Nec- 
essary—Breed for "Quality Before Quantity." 



By W. W. Harrington. 



HAVING been a breeder of the Single Comb Brown 
Leghorn since 1876, I not only have had experience, 
but a chance to profit by close observation during 
these twenty-four years of constant breeding and 
mating for best results. It may be interesting to the readers 
of this article to know how I started when the "hen fever" 
struck me, for it did strike me, and that so hard thcit I have 
never been able to shake it off. 

Tt was in the spring of 1876 when a friend of mine had a 
similar attack, and his has been just as lasting, for to-day 
he is a prominent breeder and exhibitor. He purchased a 
sitting of eggs from a noted breeder of S. C. Brown Leg- 
horns, and as I had a broody hen it was agreed that I was 
to hatch the chicks and get half. I can tell you it was then 
that great care was taken to get the best result possible and 
you can imagine my surprise and delight on the twenty-first 
day to find thirteen strong chicks. In a few weeks my friend 
came and, blindfolded, picked out six of the chicks. We 
both were successful in raising them, and in the fall we 
made our first exhibit, winning everything on chicks at two 
fairs. From that time until now I have had the same fond- 
ness for the Single Comb Brown Leghorns. They made a 
lasting impression, and the chicks that we exhibited then 
come up before me as though it were only a short time ago. 

Beginning in the small way that I did gave me an op- 
portunity to study every characteristic of this variety. As 
my motto was then, so it is now — "Quality Before Quantity." 
I kept within bounds and only raised what I could handle to 
good advantage and give the best care possible. I thought I 
knew it all then, but as 1 continue to breed them I find there 
is .-.till something to learn and a study to be made with each 
generation. Without doubt the Single Comb Brown has the 
largest number of admirers of any variety in the Leghorn 
class. Why is this? I think it is because their brilliant 
plumage and upright carriage make them fascinating to any 
lover of pure bred stock, and besides this they have the qual- 
ities that make up a profitable fowl. You can get size when 
you breed for it. They mature very early, laying in many 
cases when three and one-half months old, and although 
they are not considered a great success as a table fowl I 
have had some fancy prices returned for broilers. When 
car.-Jd for and housed as they should be the egg basket is 
always full. You must not expect any hen to lay in a house 
where everything is frozen solid and she has to use all her 
food for animal heat. Put them in a warm, sunny house 
and you will find that pleasure and profit are not an un- 
known quality with this variety. 

Little change has been made with the Browns for the 
past ten or fifteen years, except in the plumage of the male 
bird. Bringing out the striping in saddle and back, to 
match the hackle, is the most prominent, but is it to be con- 
sidered an advantage when, if bred for the show room, you 
are obliged to use the double mating system, which adds 
more care and close attention? However, if we would keep 
up with the procession we must breed what there is a call 



for. If the cry is for stripes in saddle, stripes we must have 
regardless of the result, although I must say that I think 
single mating will produce a far greater number of satis- 
factory specimens than can be produced from the same num- 
ber of eggs under the double mating, and will give better 
satisfaction to those purchasing eggs for hatching, especially 
those just making a start. If beginners are not up on mating 
(double system), or are not informed when the eggs are 
shipped that eggs marked so and so are from cockerel mat- 
ing, and that the females hatched will be only suitable for 
breeding males — if this is not explained there will be many 
complaints that the stock runs very uneven, or the females 
will be culled out altogether as being too dark. How can 
we expect good results from using a method known to per- 
petuate undesirable qualities? With the "old style" single 
mating none of this is necessary, for in breeding from a 
well mated pen, chicks, both male and female, all come a 
nice, even color. Is not this more desirable, labor and room 
considered, than when one has to mark all the chicks and 
keep a set of books to know about the matings? Even if we 
have gained a few stripes on the back and saddle like the 
Partridge Cochin male, which I admit is a very beautiful 
bird, why not on the other side have the color of the female 
correspond to Partridge Cochin female, and not call for the 
very fine penciling and the salmon colored breasts? Why 
change either when the Single Comb Brown Leghorns were 
beautiful as they were — why should we sacrifice the good 
qualities and Leghorn type just to get the Cochin coloring 
and extreme size? Females that will weigh from four to 
five pounds, and males six to seven pounds, are all we should 
ask for, and I hope for the good of the breed we shall go 
back to the single mating for our coloring for both sexes. 

The methods I have used to produce exhibition speci- 
mens successfully under the present standard are as follows: 

For a mating that will produce exhibition males, I se- 
lect the largest females possible of good type, with short 
back, a full tail, carried low rather than high, a small, 
smooth comb free from wrinkles and standing firm and 
nearly upright. For color I select a dark shade coarsely 
penciled; hackle a rich orange, striped to the skin; under 
color dark; breast full and somewhat penciled. These I 
mate to a male strongly and compactly built, full breast, 
concave back, tail carried well off, and for color a rich bril- 
liant cherry with clear metallic striping in hackle and sad- 
dle, with good under-color. Avoid breeding from a male 
with smutty or cloudy hackle and poor under color. 

To get our females I use medium size birds, never small, 
of true Leghorn type, well up on legs; color, a soft, even 
brown free from shafting or brick in wings; hackle clearly 
striped; fine in head, comb falling well over. The male we 
select for these is of a brilliant cherry, free, or nearly so, 
from striping in saddle, but strongly and clearly striped in 
hackle, very full tail, good length of leg, a comb low and 
smooth over beak and running well back over head. 

Other breeders may differ from my ideas, but I can only 



THE LEGHORNS. 



61 



say that I have been successful with my matings, and can 
raise birds that hold their own in the show room and win 
their share of blue ribbons. 

Finally, I would say, to raise winning specimens it re- 
quires something more than being mated properly. "Build 
your house first, paint it afterwards." Care is everything. 
A tree range with plenty of animal and vegetable foods that 
they may be kept growing and feather quickly, will work 
wonders toward developing exhibition specimens. Do not 
expect to raise ninety to one hundred per cent of prize Win- 
ners, for ir is impossible, and you are liable to be disap- 
pointed. Stop and compare the breeding of poultry for ex- 



hibition with that of the trotting horse. Take a stallion 
with a record of 2:10 and breed to him twelve or fifteen well- 
bred mares. How many, if any, of this raising will ever 
enter the 2:10 class? Why, then, should we expect every 
chick that we hatch to win a blue ribbon for us? If they did 
we would have nothing to work for, and all interest would 
soon be lost. If fifty per cent of what we raise are good 
salable birds, and ten per cent fit for the show room, I con- 
sider it a very satisfactory mating. 

I remain a well wisher for the best interests of the Sin- 
gle Comb Brown Leghorn. 

W. W. HARRINGTON. 



A MODEL FROM ISATURE THE SmCLE COMB BROWN LEGHORN. 



Form, Style, Size and Vigor Receive Recommendation — A Preference for Size, but Not Coarseness — The Single 
and Double Mating Systems Combined to Produce Show Specimens. 



By William tl. Barksdale. 



1AM a fancier of poultry because of my love for nature 
and the desire to watch and learn her mysterious 
ways. I selected the Single Comb Brown Leghorns be- 
cause I believed them to be nearer to that production 
of nature, the wild fowl, than any other variety. I also think 
them the most beautiful in form and color. A naturalist, or 
rather ornithologist, was visiting my yards a few weeks ago 
and seeing a Brown Leghorn fly upon a shelter near by and 
crow, said: "That bird is nearer the form and color of the 
wild chicken than any other I ever saw." This cock had been 
on free range all his life and was accustomed to work for 
wh.it he had 1o eat, the exercise giving him health and vigor 
and developing the muscles as in the wilder bird. 

The Leghorns are the workers; they are the producers, 
and will give better returns from the same food than any 
other breed of fowl. They are to the fowl family what the Jer- 
sey cow is to the cow family. As they are so like the wild fowl, 
we should place them as nearly as possible under the same 
conditions. I think an ideal place for a breeding pen of say 
one male and ten females is a yard of not less than one-half 
acre, one-third of which should be shade, native forest trees 
being the best. These trees cover the ground with leaves in 
which the birds can work and scratch for worms in summer 
and during the winter, except when the ground is covered 
with snow. One-third should be in grass that is frequently 
mowed to keep it tender, and the remainder should be culti- 
vated ground that should be frequently plowed. Nothing 
pleases a Brown Leghorn more than to scratch and wallow 
in mother earth. If they have free access to plenty of dust 
at all times they will keep absolutely free from lice. No 
arrangement of the yard is better for young chicks than the 
above, as the exercise they get will develop their bodies and 
keep them strong and healthy. It is by keeping the birds 
close to nature in the breeding pen, and during their growth 
to maturity, that we are able to approach nearer to perfet- 
ticn. 

For the yard and breeding pen described above I like a 
house ten by twenty feet, one-half for the roosting apart- 
ment and one-half in an open scratching pen. The house 
should face south, with window three by three feet in roost- 
ing room. The open scratching pen gives them plenty of 
fresh air and sunshine during the winter, both of which are 
great invigorators; it also affords protection from the cold 



winds. I like a tight floor raised about eighteen inches above 
the ground, under which the birds can go in cold weather 
and have access to dust at all times. 

I think the most common mistake made by new breeders 
is they start with too many in the breeding pen. I would 
rather start with one hen that would score ninety-five points 
than with six that v/ould score ninety-three. I would rather 
raise a dozen first-class birds than a hundred second-class. 
I think a beginning should be made with two or three hens. 
One can soon learn to distinguish their eggs, which should 
be set separately and each chick marked. By this means 
more satisfactory information can be obtained in one season 
than in a half dozen years of hap-hazard mating. By keep- 
ing a record of the chicks for several years, one can mate in- 
telligently and when the birds are put together it can almost 
be told to a certainty what the results will be. 

In mating I do not believe entirely in either the single 
or double matings, but in a combination of the two. I would 
select a male of good size and style, as near perfect as I 
could get him by the score card. He should have good 
hackle and saddle and be of standard color, and by standard 
I do not mean too dark. If the male is a dark bird it will be 
hard to get females of the required shade. To this male I 
would mate the best exhibition hens I could procure, and if I 
wished to get some males with especially heavy stripe in 
hackle and saddle I would put in a few rather dark hens, but 
guard against getting the matings too tar apart. In all the 
matings the following points should be given prominence in 
tlie selections, siz., size, form, style and vigor. 

Many breeders, and judges as well, go off after the 
feathers of the bird and lose sight of the shape. Study the 
Standard of Perfection not only in the abstract, but learn to 
apply it, and by this means it can be fixed in the mind. Al- 
though the standard describes no limit as to the weight of 
Leghorns it offers a premium on size by awarding ten points 
to this section. I like as minimum weights, six pounds for 
cooks, five pounds for hens and cockerels, and four pounds 
for pullets. While believing in these as the lowest weights I 
would not increase any of them more than one pound as a 
maximum. We must not get them too large, as they will 
become coarse. In the above limits we have a bird that will 
lay an egg as large as the American classes and be of prac- 
tical service for the table. W. H. BARKSDALE. 




CoPYRt^^ 



SI^GLE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS, 



SINGLE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS. 



history of Their Development—Uniform Flocks Bred Thirty Years Ago— Judges Differed Then More Widely Than 

ISow — Old Style Leghorns Described — tractors That Have Brought the Brown Leghorns to Their Present 

Excellence— Changes In Scale of Points, Shape and Color— Ideal Leghorns of To-day, 



By Arthur C. Smith. 

[From the Reliable Poultry Journal.] 



1AM very glad to furnish the readers of this boolv with 
whatever knowledge has come within the scope of my 
observations during the twenty years that I have been 
a breeder and exhibitor of this ever popular variety, 
and those facts which I picked up during the few years prev- 
ious. It was the ambition of my boyhood to own the best 
Brown Leghorns that any one owned and therefore I began 
to study them as seen at the shows in my locality, about 
1880 or a year or two sooner. 

I have also recollection of a fine flock of these fowls that 
was kept on the next place in the early 70's. These may or 
may not have been "diamonds of the first water," but they 
were uniform as a flock. The females were medium brown 
in color, but the males were rather light red or yellow in 
hackle and saddle. These birds were in general appearance 
much the same as those of the early 80's. They were large 
in body, short in legs, and heavy in combs. Briefly put, the 
general tendency during the past thirty years has been to 
develop a dark red, even colored male and a finely penciled, 
sea! brown female. This, so far as color is concerned, may 
be said to be the goal of our ambitions. To trace the revo- 
lution of the modern Brown Leghorns, step by step, but sim- 
ply in outline, will be the aim of the greater part of this 
article. If some of the older exhibitors would give us a 
treatise on this subject, considering the years covered by 
each standard as a period of flight of steps in the ascent to 
perfection, and each year as a step, it would form an in- 
structive and interesting work. 

THE OLD TYPE OF LEGHORN. 

The type then was certainly different from the type of 
to-day, but the male has not changed to so great an extent 
as the female. Judges differed in their opinion in those days 
much more Ihan they do to-day, therefore, the winning 
specimens often showed a great variety of types. 

The males of the early 80's were as a rule very much 
lighter in neck and saddle than those of to-day. A male 
without a pronounced yellow saddle was the exception. Still, 
it is a fact that other things being equal, the darker male 
usually won. There was at that time as now, a constant 
leaning toward darker color and there appeared occasionally 
a male as dark as those of to-day. 

But with all the changes in the type of the male, they 
are comparatively small when considered with the changes 
made in the type of female. This sex had hardly outgrown 
the appellation of Red Leghorn, which was applied to it 
fi-oni the very first. The breast was rather reddish salmon. 
The wings were red, or bricky, as they were called and the 
neck weak in striping, while the back and wings showed 
prominent light shafting and the penciling was much 
coarser than it is at the present time. 

THE OLD STANDARDS. 

The standards of 1875, 1879 and 1883 are practically iden- 
tical and call for a long, well arched and well hackled neck, 
the hackles being a rich golden bey, striped with black. This 
is substantially the language in all these standards, but like 
some phrases in the present standard, it is capable of an 



elastic interpretation. The necks were, as a rule, darker 
than the words "rich golden bay" would imply, the top being 
darker than the base. 

The wording of these standards on back is, to say the 
least, peculiar and leaves us in doubt as to just what is 
meant. The reading of this section is: "Very dark red, 
approaching black on the lower parts, each feather striped 
with golden bay." This certainly reads as though the stand- 
ard makers intended to get very dark red feathers with 
broad golden bay shafts. The males of those days did show 
what would to-day be considered very broad shafting, but 
it hardly amounted to a stripe even in the most pronounced 
examples. That the black-striped saddles were in vogue 
and found favor as early as '82 or 'S3, perhaps before, is cer- 
tain. The writer secured a male as early as '83 or '84 that 
was so strong in that particular as one could be, and it was 
purchased of Tait and Baldwin, which firm had won largely 
at the National show at Worcester in 1883. This bird was 
a large six-pound, vigorous fellow and the results of his in- 
fluence is often noted in the flock even now. 

THE DARK CRAZE. 

The language of these standards shows plainly that an 
even colored bird, that is, one the same shade of red in hackle 
and saddle, was not desired. The birds were much darker 
at the top of the neck than at the base, and rather darker on 
the back and wing bow than on the saddle. The dark birds 
grew in popularity during the 80's until they reached a point 
where the red was so dark that it could scarcely be distin- 
guished from the black. Most of these birds were still some 
shades lighter at the very base of the hackle. 

This lack of contrast in the two colors gave the birds a 
dingy look and a reaction followed. 

This was before the days of double or special aiatings 
for either sex. Bach mating was supposed to produce good 
males and females, and while some did produce good males 
and poor females and vice versa, it was merely accidental 
and far from being the result of any design or foresight of 
the breeder. 

It was but natural then, that while the males were grow- 
ing darker the females were also and, as that is their ten- 
dency in a dark line, they became very dark and were, as a 
rule, coarsely penciled. They were not much in disfavor, 
however, for a time, and I have seen females almost black 
score 93 to 94 points. Light shafting was still prominent in 
the back and wing, but the latter did not show as much of 
the red as formerly. About the happiest result of the "dark 
craze" or "black craze," I was about to call it, was that we 
were permitted to see a very few males of that seal brown 
plumage, free from shafting and also free from the reddish 
or bricky shadings that were ever so distasteful. 

REACTION AGAINST DARK BIRDS. 

The reaction against the "crows," as some called them, 
had been growing and became a strong movement during 
1886-1888. Several men had been breeding from both lighter 
males and females all, along, eind previous to these dates had 



54 



THE LEGHORNS. 



received some recognition, but they were now in a fair way 
to obtain reward for their firmness and perseverance. The 
movement for lighter males halted at the "middle ground," 
but that for lighter females went farther and we had our 
"penciled with a golden brown" standard. That meant that 
the lighter markings of back and wing should be of a yellow- 
ish brown shade. This style of a female became very popu- 
lar. The shade of color on the back and wings outweighed 
everything else. Coarse pencilings, light shafting, red 
wings, weak hackles, poor combs, light or dark colored legs 
were all admissible so long as that one thing desired — a 
golden brown penciled back — was present. In other words, 
just as we were on the road to the handsomest and most ad- 
mired type — a seal brown, free from shafting in back and 
wing and clear salmon in breast — the standard makers al- 
lowed themselves to be pushed too far by popular clamor and, 
in the opinion of the writer, went even farther than the 
popular demand. 

These golden brown females were "the thing" for sev- 
eral years and for a time the orange red males lost none of 
their popularity. A growing dislike of the lighter color at 
the base of the neck was soon apparent to the best breeders, 
and even surface color was sought by the most progressive. 
"I do not like that light ring at the base of the neck," was a 
phrase applied to many a bird of unquestioned merit. In 
deference to this demand for an even colored bird, the last 
standard was made to call for a dark, rich red, having one 
shade of red in hackle, saddle, back, shoulders and wing- 
bows, or in all red sections. 

DOUBLE MATING A NECESSITY. 

With the demand for colored males, there still remained 
the preference for the golden brown female. This dis.iimilar- 
ity of popular types in male and female is responsible for 
our double matings. They came as an absolute necessity 
when light females and dark males were winning under our 
best judges. It should not be forgotten that the practice of 
double matings became universal when the breeders realized 
that light females and dark males could not be produced 
from one mating. 

There soon came a change in the popular idea of what a 
model female should be. Breeders realized after five or six 
years' work with the golden brown penciling that the stand- 
ard, by binding them to one precise and exact shade of color, 
barred out some of the most taking and desirable females. 
Be what they might in shape, in color of breast and neck 
and in penciling, they seldom would win without that one 
feature of overwhelming merit— a golden brown back. This 
one quality outweighed everything else. Good penciling, 
rich yellow legs, a nicely striped neck, a splendid head and 
grand shape were as nothing when compared to a golden 
brown back. The breeders gradually realized the absurdity 
of tiiis position. A change was demanded which should 
recognize fine penciling of two, and only two. shades of 
brown in back and wing, thereby eliminating that lighter 
shafting and placing on equal footing all shades of brown, 
so long as each was a soft, rich brown. 

CHANCES IN SCALE OF POINTS. 

The scale of points has changed somewhat. Now a good 
hackle and saddle will sell a bird, but then only five points 
were allotted to each of these sections, while the comb count- 
ed fifteen points and the wattles and lobes were regarded 
as equally important. The growing importance of color can 
be seen by following the changes in the scale of points. In 
the scales of 187.5 and 1879, comb, wattles and lobes counted 
flftetn points each, while the head counted seven. This gave 
a total of thirty-seven points, over one-third the total valu- 
St-jp^ P/ tjte bird, to the head alone, while the important 



color sections, viz.: Hackle, saddle and wings, were given 
only fifteen points, both for shape and color. Symmetry, size 
and condition counted thirty points more, thus leaving but 
thirty-three points for the shape and color of the entire spec- 
imen. The standard of 1883 revised that considerably by 
cutcing the combs, lobes and wattles down to ten points each 
while condition and size were cut to eight and five 
points respectively. Neck and back were raised to seven 
points and wings very properly to eight points. This scale 
has remained except that in 1888 shape and color valuations 
were divided and in the last standard five more points were 
given to size, these being taken from head, symmetry and 
condition. 

IDEAL LEGHORNS OF TO-DAY. 

What the Brown Leghorn of the future will be remains 
to be seen. The present ideal in males is a dark, rich red of 
the same shade in all red sections — an even surface colored 
bird with strongly striped neck and saddle, yellow legs that 
are what the name implies and a good, five point comb, free 
from those hideous thumb marks and wrinkles which are 
more objectionable than too many or too few serrations. 
Such a bird is and will be popular. The shade of black in 
breast, wing-bar, tail, body and fluff should be a greenish 
black. The purple shade should be carefully avoided as it 
is associated almost always with minute bronze bars across 
the leathers, which if present are most pronounced in the 
wing-bars and coverts of the tail. This is an objection that 
has been much overlooked in past years, but one that is cer- 
tainly meeting with great disfavor at the present time. 

The female has been pretty well described in a previous 
paragraph, but the bird that has the seal brown shade on 
back and wing is to become the popular favorite, even if it 
has not done so already. Any suggestion of red on the one 
side or of grey on the other will not be tolerated for a 
moment by a true student of this variety. It is, or should 
be, a Brown Leghorn. Grey Leghorns we never had. Red 
Leghorns we did away with long ago. 

CHANCES IN SHAPE. 

Thus far nothing has been said of the change in shape 
during all these years.There seems to be a general tendency 
in all breeds to grow smaller and Leghorns are not the ex- 
ception to the rule, but rather a close exponent of it. The 
Leghorns of the early 80's were many of them large in body, 
but shorter in legs and coarser in head than those of to-day. 
They gradually, but somewhat rapidly, decreased in size until 
they became so small that in 1890, or about that time, a 
concerted movement was started to increase the sizo»of this 
variety. This met with success and in a few instances was 
overdone to so great an extent that some strains lost all 
semblance to Leghorn shape, being too long in body and too 
flat on the back for typical Leghorns. Such are valuable as 
breeders with smaller strains of well formed birds, but the 
extreme size that destroys and makes Leghorn shape impos- 
sible should be discouraged. 

You may ask, "To what do we owe the improvement in 
Brown Leghorns V" To just two things. First, the standard 
is now just what the breeders want, and, second, the judges 
are men who have bred these birds. Formerly every show 
hired three judges, one for the American class, one for 
the Asiatic class and one for pigeons. The remaining classes 
had to take the judge that finished first. Exhibitors suffered 
much from these well meaning but imcompetent men. It 
is only within the past four years that a Brown Leghorn 
breeder has been selected to judge a show of such magni- 
tude and importance as the JVIadison Square Garden show. 
The result has been far reaching in aiding the establishment 
of the true type. A. C. SMITH. 



LEGHORNS— BROWN AND BUFF. 



Double Mating, Which Is ISecessary In Breeding Brown Leghorns, May be Dispensed With In Breeding Buffs- 
How to Obtain Striping In Saddle and Hackle of Brown Leghorns. 



By William F. Brace. 



THE Single Comb Brown Leghorn, one of the old stand- 
ard breeds of fowls, has been growing in favor of 
late because the size has been increased to such an 
extent as to remove them from the semi-Bantam 
class and place them among the useful varieties. In under- 
going this change they have lost none of their characteris- 
tics nor departed from the regular type, but have become 
more stylish being better up on legs and finer in head 
points, with less of the beefy combs, such as one used to see. 
The present style of breeding, demanding in males the me- 
tallic stripe in hackle and saddle, and in females the soft, 
even brown backs, with well-defined hackles, makes it nec- 
essary to use double matings. To an amateur this is some- 
what discouraging, as he may procure eggs from some well- 
known breeder, which will throw some off-colored chicks, 
and he will say he has been swindled because of the uneven 
coloring. Experience will soon teach him that he can not 
obtain both sexes from one mating, that is, birds fit for ex- 
hibition. 

The important feature in connection with the accom- 
panying feathers is the distinct striping of the male, and 
under-color of hackle and saddle, which extends to the skin 
without trace of white, also the fineness of penciling and 
correct shade of the female feathers. The striping on 
hackle and saddle of this male extends or terminates near 
the end of the feather. On many strongly marked males the 
striping reaches the end of the feather, which is not desir- 
able. 

The white in under-color of hackle, so often found on 
fine looking males in the show room, is very objectionable 
and should be cut severely by the judges. Many people 
wonder why such fine looking specimens do not win a place 
in the show room. Great care should be exercised in the 
selection of a male for breeding purposes to guard against 
this serious defect. 

The female feathers show an even color from hackle to 
tail, also extending over wings, all of one shade, free from 
shafting and brick color. The Brown Leghorn female is the 
most difficult of all Leghorns to bring to standard require- 
ments, with the correct shade of brown and absence of shaft- 
ing, accompanied by the fine penciling which is so much ad- 
mired. Only the true fancier will devote time and energy to 
bring about these desired effects. 

Haphazard matings cannot be indulged in with any de- 
gree of certainty. Breed only the best specimens, even if 
you are obliged to cut the females down to a small number 
in each pen. When the art of photography reaches that de- 
gree of perfection where color can be reproduced, it will 
establish in the minds of breeders the correct standard 
shade. 

The Buff Leghorn (the latest addition to the Leghorn 
family) has made even more rapid strides in the last four or 
five years, and at the present time is fast approaching the 
Browns in style and popularity. The color has been the 
most dilticult problem to solve, but that has been overcome 
to some extent, and more attention is being paid to the style 



and shape, and they are improved in head very materially. 
In reading the show reports the scores are almost equaling 
the table fowls. As layers and table fowls they have no 
superior. Many of the prominent breeders are striving to 
make the color of both sexes as near alike as possible, thus 




Feathers from First 5. C. Brown Leghorn Cockerel and hen at 

Chicago, 1900. Bred. Owned and Exhibited by 

William F. Brace. 

avoiding the double mating system. This can be easily done 
by breeding those which have very even surface color 
(avoiding all tendency to red) with very strong under-color 
extending to the skin. 

The profits which come from the production of strictly 
high grade stock are surprising to many who think "a fowl 
is a fowl." However, any person who really has a love for 
the business, and will devote sufficient time and energy to it, 
will soon learn that all first-class specimens will find ready 
sales at prices ranging from $5 to $25, and occasionally the 
$50 mark is reached. WILLIAM P. BRACE. 








POULTflY 




^7. ^ '^m^' 



~ ill .-^ *5r ^•■H. -3^ 






ROSE COMB, BROWN LEGHORNS. 



Prolific Egg Producers—The Question of Size— Details In Breeding for Exhibition— Influence of Female Parent la 
Producing Combs Length of Legs— Get the "Upstanding Kind" of Leghorns. 



By If. W. Ku/p. 



I HAVE been breeding the Rose Comb Brown Leghorns 
since 1884. That spring I bought two sittings in May, 
one from a yard five miles north of me, the other from 
a man living three miles south. The northern yard 
was very small, with no grass whatever, and contained about 
fifteen birds. The man south cf me had no yard, but kept 
his Leghorns in a building six by fifteen feet. He gave them 
no litter, and every neck was entirely bare of feathers. I 
tell these details because they proved to be two of the most 
remarkable sittings I ever bought. From each sitting I 
hatched twelve chicks. Every one grew to maturity, and 
each sitting consisted of. six cockerels and six pullets, and 
some of them would be first prize winners to-day, as I re- 
member them. The best cockerel died of roup in Deeembftr 
or January. This was my first, but I am sorry to say not my 
last, acquaintance with this monster of poultry keeping. 
But I am thankful that it has no terrors for me now. 

I was then doing a market business in poultry, but had 
decided to work into standard-bred poultry as fast as I could. 
My father always believed in good stock, and made a good 
income from poultry. Several years before I took the stock 
in hand he raised some fine Barred Rocks. A breeder came 
and bought all the pullets at one dollar each. I thought if 
that is what can be gotten for pure stock, why raise mixed? 
Then the next year a neighbor who was breeding the Asiat- 
ics and Silver Wyandottes and Barred Rocks, put an adver- 
tisement costing two dollars in a farm paper. From that 
advertisement he sold sixty-two to sixty-three sittings of 
eggs at one dollar per sitting. 

To a boy, the one dollar a head and the sixty-two or 
sixty-three dollars looked very large, I tell you, and when 
my health gave way completely, a year or so after that, and 
I took the poultry fever in earnest, I decided to work into 
standard-bred poultry. I selected the Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns as one variety. Let me say right here that I 
started with too many breeds or varieties, and had to drop 
several of them in order to make a success of any of them. 

As all fowls are kept for income, and the Leghorns' spe- 
cialty is eggs, I will write a little about this before I take up 
form and feathers. I am sorry to say that I have not many 
egg records. That the Rose Comb Leghorns are good layers 
I kLow, for I have fed them and gathered the eggs, winter 
and summer, for sixteen years, and I also know that a Leg- 
horn egg costs only about one-half what an egg from a large 
breed does. I do not need an account to tell me whether a 
pen is doing well, if I gather the eggs the year around. 

Another point: Of late years I produced breeders and 
eggs for hatching altogether, and do not feed for eggs during 
the fall and winter, preferring to have them lay during the 
hatching season and save their vitality for these eggs. My 
early pullets, hatched the latter part of February and early 
in March, begin laying the latter part of July and in August. 
From then on the pullets lay their eggs where thoy are 
raised, for I do not move them into their breeding yards un- 
til about December 25th to 30th. If they are laying then the 
moving will stop them for a couple of weeks. If a record is 



wanted they should be housed before they start to lay and 
forced right along. 

1 put six Rose Comb pullets in a building one year on 
January 5th, when the first one laid. The building was ten 
by eighteen feet, with no yard. I did not let them nut for 
five months and twenty-five days, and in that time X gath- 
ered just six hundred eggs. I was young at the business 
then and did not teed to make a record at all. I just fed 
them well. I know I could do much better now. During 
this past January I wanted some eggs and in seven days 
made them increase their yield nearly five hundred per cent. 
Last summer I had a pen of twenty-one Rose Comb hens 
running with a few pullets. In the next house were thirteen 
Barred Rock pullets. I found that the thirteen Rocks re- 
quired almost the same amount of food the twenty-one Leg- 
horns did, and in a ten-days' count the Leghorns laid five 
more than twice as many eggs as did the Rocks, and my 
Rocks are good layers, too. To sell eggs at the price I do I 
must have good layers. We see by the above test that a 
Leghorn egg costs less than one-half as much as a Rock egg. 
This was in June. In April the Rocks would have laid more. 
When you come down to facts it seems to be as Mr. C. E. 
Howell says, "A Leghorn is so profitable as a layer that you 
can afford to give or throw away the body." But the Leg- 
horns are increasing in weight, and when the hens dress four 
pounds each, the market value of the carcass will be no 
mean part of the Leghorn as a utility fowl. 

One thing I feel sure of, and that is, the larger the bird, 
the more it will eat and the more each egg will cost. The 
period from egg to maturity will also be lengthened. It can 
not be otherwise. I favor and try to breed so that the cock- 
erels, when developed, will weigh five pounds and the pullets 
four pounds each. I have several five pound Rose Comb 
cockerels and four-pound pullets, and they are large, making 
a fine appearance. To get these weights you must pay at- 
tention to width of back. Part of the weight must be in 
width. I have seen many Single Comb Brown Leghorns 
that were tall enough to weigh five pounds, but they had 
only the width of a three-pound cockerel. A Leghorn pullet 
weighing three pounds is a fair-sized bird. If below three 
pounds, when they are well developed, I would call them too 
small. A three-pound pullet will at two years make a four- 
pound hen. 

I think that in the Brown Leghorn we have combined 
grace, beauty, and usefulness to a higher degree than in any 
other breed. I am well aware that all breeds are beautiful 
when bred close to perfection. I cannot look at the fine 
specimens shown at New York without wanting to breed 
them all, but in the Browns we have so much in so little. 

The Rose Como Browns may not be quite so showy as 
the Single Comb Browns because of their low combs, but the 
advantage of the low, fleshy comb has made them popular in 
the northern states, although they are also bred in the Houth 
perhaps to as great an extent proportionately as in the 
north, considering all breeds north and south. My sales of 
eggs from Rose Combs have been greater than from Single 



iS 



The leghorns. 



CoiEb Browns up to the last two years. Now they are about 
the same. The entries of Rose Comb Browns are steadily 
increasing at the shows. The New York show contains large 
classes each year. For some years females have been shown 
equal to Single Comb Browns in color, and males also, for 
Cyrus 1st was cut only one-half point on color at Cleveland, 
Ohio, and Cyrus iid scored 93i/^ after being cut IV^ for a lit- 
tle gray in one wing, caused by clipping the wing, then pull- 
ing it to get it into the show. 

One thing that has discouraged breeders has been the 
rose comb. The stock during the first ten years after being 
admitted to the standard (which was in 1883, I believe) bred 
combs too large, and too far away from the bead. They 
would soon topple over, but that fault is pretty well reme- 
died, although some combs still grow to be too large. I have 
been measuring a few 
combs that I think nearly 
right. I find a cock's comb 
that fits close to the head 
and seems about the right 
size for loolis is one and 
seven-eighths inches wide 
in front, two and one-half 
inches long. The comb 
should taper to where the 
spike starts. The spike 
should be a long one, and 
extend straight out on a 
level with the top of the 
comb. A Rose Comb should 
be covered with small 
points on top. A smooth 
comb is a defect. The cock 
having the comb here de- 
scribed weighs about five 
pounds and was behind a 
"blue" at New York. To 
reproduce it I want his 
mate to have a comb flat on 
top, seven-eighths of an 
inch wide, and one and 
one-half inches to spike, 
with a straight spike three- 
fourths of an inch long. 

1 should like to have 
shown a cut of this cock, 
but after trying five expos- 
ures, some at home and two 
in a photograph gallery. I 
gave it up. I find it is very 
hard to get a good, true 

likeness of any Leghorn, and this cock is the most nervous 
chap I ever tried. In the pen he is quiet, but will not 
stand for his picture. In mating for good combs, or in 
fact, any section, I would rather have a female first-class 
than the male if I could only have one first-class, for I find 
tUe chicks follow the mother in almost seventy-five per cent 
of the progeny. I think here is where good results are often 
lost. A first-class male is selected, but not enough attention 
is paid to his mate, or mates. 

To a beginner, if a bird has a good comb he will hardly 
look farther, but after some years he will learn there are 
other important points. Color is usually considered the 
most important part of a Brown Leghorn, and I think about 
the hottest place a judge gets into at a show is where a bird 
has extra fine color but is not so good in shape, while an- 
other has extra fine shape and fair color. Each thinks he 
has the best 

The shape of the body back of the legs is an important 




An "Upstanding" R. C. Brown Leghorn. 



point to the eye. The fluff should extend beyond the legs, 
giving us a balanced and symmetrical body. I would like to 
show it in its beauty in living models; also the style where 
the body seems to come to an end right back of the legs. If 
you have no male with this shape — the long fluff — but have 
the upstanding kind, mate him to hens having a full saddle 
rising to the tail. I at one time mated a high tailed 
cockerel to such a hen and every male had the shape of the 
hen and but one pullet had the cockerel's shape. One had 
the hen's, and the others were in between the two. In color 
this sire striped dark. The dam was medium dark only. The 
edge of the cockerel's hackle and saddle was light red. All 
the cockerels were only medium to very light, with not much 
striping, while all the pullets had a dark ground color, pen- 
ciled rather light, as light as the mother, but had two pan- 
ellings where she had one. 
This mating produced show' 
pullets while I wanted 
show cockerels. She had 
the shape and comb and 
was medium dark. 

Of late years the great 
point to be gained seems to 
be black stripes in hackle 
and saddle. The black 
edged with a bright, rich 
red is beautiful, no doubt, 
and should first be bred in 
the neck to perfection. 
What I mean is, do not sac- 
rifice hackle for saddle, for 
you can see the hackle, 
both the black and golden 
red, one hundred feet away, 
while the black of the back 
can only be seen right by 
handling. The neck being 
arched prevents the feath- 
ers from lapping enough to 
cover the black, while the 
standard back makes a con- 
cave sweep and this laps 
the feathers until only the 
red shows, making practi- 
cally a solid red saddle ex- 
cept when handled or 
viewed very close. 

The proper mate to use 
to a dark, metallic striped 
hackle and saddle is a fe- 
male having solid or al- 
most black stripe in neck. Edge color should go to the end 
of the feather or you will have a smutty hackle on your 
cockerels. I should prefer a plain saddle with a beautifully 
edged hackle, the red color extending to and around the 
end of each feather on the cape to a perfect saddle, with 
the hackle only red on the upper part, the cape or lower 
part being black, both the edge and center. I would ad- 
vise this: Never give up a good hackle and fair saddle for 
a fair hackle and good saddle. I have seen it done often in 
the Single Comb Browns, but I was also glad to see our 
best judges favor the best hackle in preference to the best 
saddle. 

The pullets from a dark cockerel, and his mate to re- 
produce him, are always bad in breast color. It is impossi- 
ble to hold a salmon breast and produce the black stripe in 
saddles. In Single Comb Browns, lots of the pullets will get 
breasts like their backs, and I know it will produce the same 
in Rose Comb Browns. But if the standard and the buyers 



THE LEGHORNS. 



59 



demand a striped saddle, we will have to put up with darli 
females. 

White is a great source of trouble between the buyer and 
the seller of eggs for hatching. Very few stop to consider 
that white Is simply the absence of color. It can be and is 
hereditary, but it can and is just as often produced by other 
causes, and blamed by the buyer to the seller's stock. The 
color of the feathers is deposited by the blood. If the chick 
is kept on limited range, or is ill fed, it will fail to make the 
color nearly as good as if fed properly. If a feather is 
bruised or fails to break the skin at the proper time, it will 
come with a white tip. This can be easily proved by injur- 
ing a stub just coming through, especially the stub of a 
flight feather. 

I have been doing a little measuring to give definite in- 
formation in regard to length of legs. A Leghorn should 
have a length of leg to correspond to the length of its neck 
and tail. If short in legs it is out of proportion. I find five- 
pound cockerels should have five and one-half to six inches 
of daylight from the bottom of the feathers to the ground 
right between the legs. One that is six and one-half inches 
is fully as high as it should be. You will find by taking the 
bird in your hand and placing a foot-rule against the breast 
bone down along the leg, stretching it to its full length, that 
a bird measuring ten and one-half inches is tall on his legs. 
I have them that go to eleven and one-half and I consider 
that plenty tall enough. 

The standard colored Brown Leghorn, female in perfec- 
tion is a model in both shape and color. In color she should 
be brown all over, except the neck. It should be a golden 
color, with a black stripe down the center of each feather. I 
do not remember that I ever saw one of that kind with a 
brown back. If the hackle is black centered, the ground 
color of the feathers is black also, and you have black, me- 
tallic black, and brown for your color; while if the hackle 
has some penciling in the centers you can have the back a 
dull black, called brown, and you want it penciled with those 
small, golden-brown dots, so small and the dots so close to- 



gether that if you step back six to ten feet, her back and 
wings will look like a soft, velvety brown. You can not see 
a particle of black, and here you have the true Brown Leg- 
horn and the shade that is the most beautiful and the shade 
that wins. Such a color of back and wings has been pro- 
duced in the Rose Comb Browns, practically free from shaft- 
ing, that is, free from a shaft that is colored a lighter shade 
than the ground of the feather. 

The male that should be mated to such a female will be 
of the same shape as the male described, with the comb the 
same. The lobes of all breeders should be clear white, 
smooth and oval in shape and fit flat to the head. The face 
should be free from white. The color of the neck of the 
male should be golden with black center on the cape and as 
far in and up the neck as you can get it. Wings should be 
in color a dull brown, the duller they are the less brick there 
will be in his female get. The saddle on tap should be as 
free from black centers as possible. The centers should be 
brown. The edge should shade lighter down the sides, have 
a golden cast, dark under color for all breeders. Legs should 
be yellow and of proper length. Tail carried low and full. 

With such a mating you are sure to reproduce the best 
females. For one mating take such a male, or one a little 
darker, and mate him with light show females, part of the 
pen to be dark females, and you will get dark males from 
your dark females. 

To-day I know there are hundreds breeding Rose Comb 
Browns who keep them just for eggs and beauty. They select 
them because of the non-freezing comb. I would say, "Come 
to the show with your stock." It will pay you in pleasure and 
money. Breed the best you can and keep at it. I will add a 
word about yarding. I know that hundreds give up Leg- 
horns because they cannot keep them in a common yard. I 
have only two pens with eight-foot fences; the rest are of 
four-foot wire. But I clip short every bird in them, leaving 
a feather on one side to preserve the shape. It does not 
spoil their looks. 

W. W. KULP. 



A^ "OLD-TIME" ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORN. 



ONCE a person has the "poultry craze," as it used to 
be termed, he always has it; it never leaves! The 
writer had an attack nearly a quarter of a century 
ago. It was the year before silver was "kicked 
out." coinciding with the salary grab, etc. This is not to be 
a political article, but the terrible ordeal of currency con- 
traction and consequent appreciation of the dollar of ac- 
count, beginning in earnest about that time, was what com- 
pelled me to look to other sources of income than those to 
which I had been accustomed to look for the support of my- 
self and family. That is why I write thus. 

First I was called "looney'" for investing ten dollars in 
Single Comb Brown Leghorn eggs. I got to be quite a 
fancier in my own estimation, but here in Maine the win- 
ters were quite a drawback, and so I studied up what I con- 
cluded would prove the desideratum — a Rose Comb fowl, 
and named them first the "York Fowl," but after a couple of 
years' trial I concluded to call them the Rose Comb Brown 
Leghorns, and had I time, Mr. Editor, and you could spare 
the space I would go upstairs and bring down about fifty 
pounds of old poultry papers and quote from them a few of 
the clips and cuffs I got for assuming to "get up a new 
breed" of fowls. 

Why, the first time I attempted to exhibit a pair of Rose 
Comb Brown Leghorns at the great Maine Poultry Exhibi- 
tion, held in Portland, the secretary, Fred Fox, had to call 
a meeting of the directors together, at which meeting It was 



decided I could not exhibit Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, as 
there were old breeds enough and we "might better improve 
them" than help along any new varieties. But they finally 
permitted me to show a pair, which I sold to an editor of a 
poultry paper. Then began a "war on paper," and I was 
most mercilessly "sat down on" during the seventies, but 
had the satisfaction, after sending eggs or fowls to nearly 
every state in the Union, to see Fancier Brown and Fancier 
Jones et al come out with big head lines advertising "Im- 
ported Rose Comb Brown Leghorns," etc., etc., and they 
must have been quite honest about it, for about twenty-five 
leading fanciers clubbed together and sent Mr. Fred Ayers, 
of Connecticut, across the waters to Leghorn, Italy, and 
along the Mediterranean Coast. After a six-months' fruit- 
less search for Rose Comb Brown Leghorns he returned as 
he went. — an honest man — for he soon published a book 
(which many of your readers may have seen) entitled "The 
Quest of the Leghorn," in which he said that there were no 
Rose Comb Brown Leghorns in Italy or elsewhere excepting 
those raised in America. 

So this was a great boom for my adventure, but fancy 
breeders stuck to the pretty but stamina-killing white ear- 
lobe and got the Rose Comb Brown Leghorn admitted to 
the standard, so I bred from my best layers only, regardless 
of ear-lobes, until 1885, eleven years ago, when I sold my 
little farm at South Mollis, Maine, where I was postmaster 
for eight years and began village life, but if I had stuck to 
the chicken business it would perhaps have been quite as 
well for me. t. C. McDANIEL. 










---^c 







CQPTRCHTED BY 
RELlftBLt 
Poultry 



SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGt10R\S. 



WHITE LEGHORNS FOR EGGS. 



A Farm Where White Leghorns, Called the "Business Hen of America," are Used Exclusively — Quarters and Rations 

— Incubators Do the Hatching, Brooders the Brooding. 



By n. J. Blanchard. 



THE man who has decided to go into the poultry busi- 
ness has usually made up his mind which branch he 
wishes to follow, and if it be egg farming, with the 
sale of breeding stock and eggs for hatching, he will 
make no mistake in selecting the Single Comb White Leg- 
horn as the breed he will keep. 

As there is said to be a "difference in ginger," so there is 
also a decided difference in White Leghorns. When line- 
bred for the show room they are seldom the large, hardy, 
persistent layers that they are when selected and properly 
bred for egg production, but when bred with the latter view, 
standard qualifications need not and should not be neg- 
lected. Indeed, some of the finest show Leghorns ever seen 
were from yards where breeding for market eggs is a spe- 
cialty. 

Whether It is best to buy a breeding pen or buy eggs and 
hatch and raise a foundation stock, is an open question 
which must be decided by the person and pocketbook. 

The building of houses for chickens and laying hens is 
an important matter, and should receive the most careful 
attention. Our houses are sixteen feet wide by twenty feet 
long and seven feet one inch high for Single houses, with 
peak root shingled, straw-filled !oft, and board floors with 
basement three feet high for a scratching shed. Our double 
houses are forty feet long, divided across the center by a 
tight board partition; otherwise they are the same as the 
single houses. Houses from one hundred to four hundred 
feet long have many things in their favor, but we think they 
have more disadvantages and so do not advocate or use 
them. Poultry houses should have light enough, but not too 
much glass, and should be warm and dry in winter and cool 
and well ventilated in summer. 

USE INCVBATORS AND BROODERS. 

In running a poultry farm of any considerable size in- 
cubators acd brooders are a recognized necessity. Select a 
first-class incubator, even if the price seems high, as a cheap, 
poorly made machine is worse than useless, and many a be- 
ginner has given up the poultry business in disgust at the 
very outset because of the antics of a poor incubator. 

The brooder is of even more importance than the 
hatcher. A novice can bring out a reasonably good hatch 
in a good incubator, but he will need all his skill and the 
best brooder he can get to raise a good percentage of the 
chicks. The thing of prime importance in a brooder is 
plenty of heat well diffused; the next, ventilation. We pre- 
fer the piped sectional indoor brooders, as they are easy to 
clean and operate and will accommodate a large number of 
chicks. In long rainy spells or cold weather the indoor 
brooder is much preferable, as chicks can be cared for easier 
and get exercise inside the house, where they are warm, dry 
and comfortable. 

Our brooder floors are kept covered with dry sand, and 
house floors with chaff, cut straw, etc., where the chicks are 
early taught fo scratch for grains. 

The chicks' food for the first few days consists of granu- 
lated oatmeal, with clean water slightly warmed for drink. 



Small pneumatic drinking dishes are used, that prevent 
drowning of chicks and keep the water fairly clean. Good, 
sharp grit, of some kind is kept before them. The chicks are 
now gradually led on to a diet of johnny cake, composed of 
ground oats, corn, and wheat about equal parts, oat hulls 
sifted out, add one-third part bran, moistened with sour 
milk or buttermilk, with soda and salt added as for the 
table. If no milk is to be had we put a little high-grade pre- 
pared meat in the cake before baking. When very young the 
chicks are fed five times daily, then four and Anally three 
times. When very young we begin feeding the chicks green 
clover cut one-eighth of an inch long and continue as long 
as we have material. 

When the weather is mild and the chicks are two or 
three weeks old they should be allowed outdoors in a yard 
adjoining the brooder house, and as they get stronger and 
more familiar with their run they can be allowed free range 
during good weather. After the chicks get used to the range 
it is best to allow them perfect liberty when possible, as they 
grow faster and stronger and usually make healthier, better 
stock, wiih a constitution strong to resist disease and render 
the bird a better layer or breeder. 

When the weather is warm and chicks' large enough the 
brooders are removed and the chicks taught to go on the 

TOOtiiS. 

Then we heave a great sigh of relief and say "Our trou- 
bles are now over." But this is true only in part, as the 
young stock must still have careful attention and feeding. 
Cracked corn and wheat are now the principal grain foods, 
and once a day a mash is fed composed of ground oats, corn 
and wheat bran, with a little oil meal and prepared meat 
thoroughly mixed while dry; the whole is then moistened 
with sweet bkimmed milk or water, in which a little salt has 
been dissolved. 

Feed only what they will eat up quickly. 

The cockerels should now be kept separate from the pul- 
lets, as both do better by themselves. 

As cold weather approaches the pullets, now beginning 
to lay, should be separated into flocks of fifty or less, so they 
will become familiar with their house and yard before win- 
ter. 

At six months of age a large share of the pullets should 
be laying. 

FEEDING WINTER LAYERS. 

In cold weather our routine of feeding is a very light 
ration of mixed grains; corn, oats, wheat and buckwheat or 
barley about equal parts, fed in the morning, scattered in a 
heavy straw litter on the floor. About an hour later th« 
hens are given water, slightly warmed in coldest weather, 
and cabbages or mangel beets cut in halves and placed on 
the floor. 

The exercise of scratching for the light grain ration in 
early morning warms the birds and as they are active nearly 
all the forenoon in picking at the cabbages or beets they are 
hungry and in the best of condition for a big dinner of the 
warm mash. 

This mash has for a base, ground oats and wheat bran 



62 



THE LEGHORNS. 



about equal parts, to which is added cornmeal, old process 
oil meal, and prepared meat (the dry article). 

Several times a week boiled potatoes or turnips are in- 
cluded. 

The oil meal and dry prepared meat in the chick's mash 
has been increased very gradually in quantity until at the 
laying age they are taking a full ration of it. About four 
o'clock in the afternoon the fowls are given a liberal feed of 
the mixed grain, scattered in the litter as in the morning. 
This feeding should be early enough in the afternoon so the 
hens will have an hour or more of daylight to work it out of 
the litter, but in case they do not get it all they will be at 
work again in the morning. 

Care must be taken to give a very scant ration of grain 
in the morning. The last food keeps them busy at work 
until night, when they go to roost with a full crop, warm, 
tired and happy. 

In winter the fowls are furnished a bath of tine road 
dust placed in a large box in a sunny spot in their house. 



and in using this they keep themselves free from lice. We 
are never troubled with lice (mites) in our poultry houses, 
as they are kept clean and well ventilated. 

A strong argument in favor of artificial incubation and 
brooding is that with ordinary care the chicks will be free 
from lice. 

You have now hatched and raised your chicks and the 
pullets are laying. If you are careful and methodical in 
your business you can soon build up a good trade in fancy 
table eggs, guaranteeing each one to be new-laid. 

If you have a good strain of fowls and are successful in 
their selection and breeding you may now begin in a small 
way at first to advertise stock and hatching eggs for sale. 
Ask a fair price for your goods and then always give good 
value for money sent you. 

It may be discouraging for a while, as people are loth to 
send money to an unknown breeder, but persevere and you 
will become known and sales will increase if you deal fairly. 

H. J. BLANCHARD. 




|5T [oiKEREL NEW York I'i^i^ '-"-Xi-^i-^r-i-- 

2~0MEN NEW York I?"* 
BRED, OWNED 'vjExniaiTED BY 
DW VoUHG -HICMLftMO -NY- 



First PrUe Winning Single Comb While Leghorns at /Vew York; Bred and Ourned by B W. Young. 



LEGHORISS— WHITE AND BUFF, 



"Type Makes the Breed," Size Adds to the Value—Standard Requirements Treated In a Masterly Manner Sug- 
gest Occasion for Deep Thought Looking to Nature for Instruction In Breeding Buffs— Too Much 
Importance Attached to Undercolor— Wild Birds as Subjects for Comparison. 



By Ezra Cornell. 



IT WOULD seem an easy matter to tell others how to 
breed exhibition White Leghorns, but I find it other- 
wise. The whole story seems to be told when you have 
said, "Mate your best exhibition males with your best 
exhibition females." Theoretically, that is all there is of it, 
and would probably leave nothing more to say if our best 
exhibition birds were perfect and had been bred from perfect 
specimens. But where the rub comes, is that our birds are 
never either perfect or alike — every bird has its faults. They 
may be slight, but still they exist. It is these faults, per- 
haps, added to those of the mate, and as like as not accentu- 
ated in the offspring, that make all the trouble. If White 
Leghorns had been bred true to the standard for centuries 
and were a product of nature, it would be a comparatively 
easy matter to perpetuate standard characteristics without 
the faults, but as they are a production of man's genius, they 
have a strong tendency, as have all our domestic fowls, to 
revert to their natural or original state. It is for these rea- 
sons that those traits which we consider faults are so per- 
sistently cropping out. 

How to keep your birds up to the highest state of per- 
fection is a problem which presents itself with each year's 
ma.tings. You must study the standard, study the ideal cuts, 
and learn to know exactly what is wanted' — then study your 
birds. Never breed from a bird having a serious fault, or 
mate birds that are faulty in corresponding sections; if you 
do. the fault will probably reappear even more prominently 
In a very large percentage of the offspring. Another im- 
portant thing and one that must not be neglected or slighted 
is to know that your birds are well bred and to know the 
faults that were greatest in their ancestors. You might get 
an extremely fine specimen which was produced by chance; 
that is, bred from inferior birds, but such a bird is not, as 
a rule, a good breeder. Good stock birds are only produced 
after years of careful breeding — after mating specimens of 
the iinest standard types for a succession of years. In this 
way and in no other will the desired traits become well 
fixed and reproduce with any degree of satisfaction. 

The best White Leghorns I have known have been pro- 
duced by standard or single matings, that is, exhibition 
males and females have both been produced from the same 
mating. There is no necessity to resort to double matings 
unless it is to produce slightly better lobes, but this is too 
insignificant to repay one for the extra trouble and expense. 
Our birds must, first of all, be true to type, as it is type 
that makes the breed. To get birds correct in shape, you 
must learn what the correct shape or type is, and there is no 
better way of learning this than to study your standard, also 
the ideal cuts. Do not believe that the tail should be carried 
low or well back, because some breeder or judge happens to 
have gotten such an idea and publishes an article setting 
forth his notion as a fact. Refer to your standard and see 
what it says and, as a rule, you will not go far wrong if you 
follow it. 

Let us consider size. There is no fixed size required, 
consequently there is a vast difference of opinion as to what 
the correct Leghorn should weigh. Personally, I prefer the 



females to weigh five pounds, and the cocks to weigh six and 
one-half pounds. There is not much difference in the weights 
of the hens and pullets at the time of our winter shows, but 
the cockerels have not then attained their full weight; they 
are somewhat slower in filling out, the heavier layers 
are slower to mature, are poorer layers, and are almost al- 
ways of a poor type. Many will undoubtedly consider these 
large weights, but they are about the size of the best birds 
seen at New York and Boston. I have seen Leghorn hens, 
both in Whites and Browns, at New York weighing six and 
one-half pounds, and I saw one Brown Leghorn cockerel 
which weighed eight and one-half pounds. Such birds are of 
course extreme and are undesirable. 

Next take the head, the most essential feature of which 
is the comb. This must be good, especially on the Whites. 
No matter how good your bird is in other sections, he will 
not pass muster either as an exhil)ition bird or as a breeder 
if his comb is bad. A Leghorn comb should be of medium 
size, not large, as many seem to think. The female comb 
should be firm on the head and stand perfectly erect in 
front, including the first point, the rest of the points falling 
gracefully to one side. Such combs as this are by no means 
common; in fact, too little attention has been g^iven to this 
particular. With such combs as these on the females you 
win have little trouble producing good combs on the males. 
Another important point is that the front of the comb 
should not extend forward on leaving the head. If it does, 
you will have too much material and will get small folds 
commonly called 'thumb marks," which are unsightly and 
should be avoided. The present standard calls for five 
points. In this I think it is too severe. If a comb is other- 
wise good I think it makes no difference whether there are 
five or six points, and you can not tell at a glance which 
number a bird has; but if there are only four, or if there are 
eight, you will notice at once that there are too few or too 
many. It is not my intention to advise any breeder not to 
follow the standard as nearly as is possible. 

The earlobes are the next important part of the head, 
and are by no means easily produced by single matings. If 
you get good, well enameled lobes on the females you are 
likely to get males with white faces, whereas if the face and 
lobes of the male are good, you will probably get poorly en- 
ameled lobes on the females. The earlobes of the males 
rarely remain good as the bird advances in age: they almost 
invariably become rough and slightly specked or streaked 
with red, or else the bird becomes white in the face. The 
latter is by all odds the least desirable. The white face is 
very unpleasing in appearance and is something I would not 
have. You will frequently get cockerels which will never 
go white in the face, but which possess lobes that are indis- 
tinctly outlined. Such birds are usually considered to have 
white faces, whereas they have not and never will have and 
should of course be less severely criticised than those which 
have that failing. I like cockerels to have a fair sized, round, 
well enameled lobe — one that will almost always show a lit- 
tle red in older age, and females with rather poorly enam- 
eled lobes, which are not too prominent. Females wJth lobes 



64 



THE LEGHORNS. 



ot this kind will produce good lobes on the male offspring, 
and will themselves pass muster in the show room, with but 
a slight cut. 

A pure white plumage throughout is demanded, and 
from the way this subject has lately been taken up a person 
would almost be led to suppose that heretofore breeders had 
not made a proper effort to produce white birds, but I assure 
you that many have been doing all they could in this direc- 
tion. 

During my first year as an exhibitor, pure white birds 
were not uncommon at New York, but a rich yellow shank 
and beak were never to be found on those pure white birds. 
One ot the most successful birds I have ever owned — a win- 










lyiWBI 



"Lady Dainty," a First Prize Single Comb White Leghorn. 
Bred and Owned by Chas, J. Fogg. 

ner of three fir.sts at New York — never had even so much as 
a yellow tint to his shanks. He was pure white — plumage, 
shanks, beak and all, but he won. Then the reaction set in 
and a rich yellow leg was demanded and soon appeared, but 
with a creamy tint to the plumage. 

I have seen birds with yellow shanks and white plum- 
age, but I have never yet seen a pure white bird with the 
rich, deep yellow shank and beak — such a colored shank and 
beak as is wanted and such as we should have on all young 
stock. Many claim this to be a possible combination; may 
be it is, but I have never seen it, and I have seen most of our 
best eastern show birds of recent years, and have been a 
careful observer of them. By mating pure white birds you 
will in a very short time entirely lose the color of the shanks 
and beak, and in order to restore this color you must use a 
bird with the deep, rich yellow shanks and beak and a 
creamy tint in the plumage. By a creamy tint I do not 
mean a straw-colored bird, a yellow bird, or a brassy bird. 
I believe in sticking 'to the rich, deep yellow shanks and 
beak, and then get as white birds as you can. 

Personally, I prefer young White Leghorns with the 
creamy tint and rich yellow shanks and believe them to be 



the best and the correct color. The creamy tint in plum- 
age is merely condition and not lack of good breeding. Take 
a flock of pullets showing this tint very distinctly and after 
they have been busy laying eggs for a year or two, without 
once stopping to recuperate by setting, you will find that 
they are white enough; the creamy tint will have altogether 
disappeared with loss of vigor; the shanks and beak will 
also have lost their deep, rich yellow appearance, and will 
have become a much lighter shade. If these birds were 
white to start with, they will have become white throughout 
— shanks, beak and all. Old birds immediately after molt 
also show this creamy tint in plumage, but soon lose it as 
the feathers ripen, or, as we call it, harden down. 

If the creamy tint was not condition, it could not disap- 
pear or change as it does, and I consider it entirely wrong 
for judges to cut a bird for color as they always do when 
shown in this condition. If they cut at all it should be for 
condition and nothing else. An old bird showing this tint 
(that is, soon after molting) is not in good show condition 
and should be cut, but a young bird should have this tint 
when in the very pink of condition, and should not be cut 
either for color or condition. 

In the winter of 1S92 and 1893 I purchased the best eight 
White Leghorn males and the best fifteen females I could 
find, at a cost of $345. These birds won every first and sec- 
ond prize at the New York show of that year, and at once 
gave me something to advertise and the foundation stock of 
my present strain. With this number of birds I was able to 
make a sufficient number of matings to enable me to con- 
tinue without once going outside for new blood, and I con- 
sider this the only safe and satisfactory way of breeding. 
There might have been a better way of starting, but if I was 
to start again it would be in pretty much the same manner, 
or as near to it as my means would permit. 

My experience with Buff Leghorns has been entirely dif- 
ferent. I came into possession of my first Buffs more by the 
result of circumstances than through any real desire at the 
time to breed them. They were an inferior lot of birds, but 
I kept them and gradually became interested in the breed. I 
bred and exhibited them five years before I was able to win a 
single first prize with them at New York. It probably cost 
me more to improve these birds than it would to have 
started as I did with the Whites, but on the other hand I un- 
doubtedly got a good deal of experience in breeding them 
that I would not otherwise have gotten, so it is a question, 
after all, which of the two ways of starting is, in the long 
run, the cheapest and best for a beginner. 

What I have written on Whites relates equally well to 
Buffs, excepting of course the reference to color of plumage. 
First let us see what the standard requires for the female 
plumage. "Surface color throughout one even shade of rich 
golden buff, free from shafting or mealy appearance, the 
head and neck plumage showing a metallic lustre of the 
same shade as the rest of the plumage; undercolor a lighter 
shade as free as possible from all foreign color. Other 
things being equal, the specimen showing the richest under- 
color shall receive the preference." 

Th best buff color to be found to-day is on the Buff 
Leghorn females. No other breed of Buffs is so absolutely 
free from all foreign color or possesses a more even shade 
of Buff. The Buff Leghorns have more of a metallic lustre 
than the other Buffs, which gives them a slightly different 
appearance, but it is due to their having harder, closer fit- 
ting feathers. Many breeders have been much retarded in 
getting a fine plumage by laying altogether too much im- 
portance on under color. They would have been, in many 
cases, far better if they had never considered under color at 
all. A bird with a smoky or foreign under color should be 



THE LEGHORNS. 



65 



discarded, but aside from this It is liardly worth considering. 
Tlie best Buff Leghorn females I have ever seen, both for 
exhibition and breeding, have had the lightest under color. 
The standard says, "Other things being equal, the specimen 
showing the richest under color shall receive the prefer- 
ence." (The word "richest" is usually translated in this case 
to mean darkest). This may be all right, but be absolutely 
sure that other things are equal before giving a deep under 
color any preference or consideration. 

Leghorns have comparatively hard, close fitting feathers. 
In such feathers the coloring matter always concentrates in 
the surface or harder part of the feather; this is according to 
nature and you cannot change it. Look at some of our most 
highly colored wild birds — the Scarlet Tanager, the Oriole, 
or even the Canary, and you will find an under color which 
appears white in comparison to the surface. Take these 
same brilliant feathers and lay them in the sunlight over a 
darker under color and you will deaden the color. The rays 
of light pass through the surface plumage, and on striking 
the light under color are reflected, much intensified, which 
gives the plumage its extreme brilliancy; whereas if the rays 
of light on penetrating the surface were to strike a dark 
under color, they would be absorbed and the surface color 
deadened. There are three ways of deepening under color, all 
of which arc undesirable in the case under discussion. First, 



by deepening the surface color, which is merely overloading 
the plumage with coloring matter; second, by loosening up 
the feathers and getting a more fluffy plumage; third, by 
getting a mealy surface, which is nothing more or less than 
a separation of the primary colors which combine to make 
buff and which must be thoroughly blended if you are to get 
a good buff. That I have just written applies especially to 
the females; the males have a deeper under color, but it is 
not so apt to be solid. Cockerels are sometimes found with 
some white in under color of hackle, which, as the bird 
grows older, will probably appear on the surface. A male 
bird should have sound under color. This is important, 
although it makes little difference whether it is light or 
dark. The shade will, as a rule, correspond with and depend 
on the shade of the surface color. Many of our best Buff 
Leghorn males for stock purposes have a rather dark, a 
smoky color in the hidden web of the main tail feathers. 
Many seem to think that this is essential, although I can see 
no reason for it; some of my birds have it and some have 
not. I am unable as yet to say whether it is of any import- 
ance or not, but if a bird is otherwise good, I care but little 
whether or not he has a slight smoky cast in the hidden web 
of the main tail feathers. The best Buff Leghorns I have 
owned and known have, like the Whites, been produced by 
standard matings. EZRA CORNELL. 



SUCCESS WITH SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGHORNS. 



IN OUR judgment, the first element of success with any 
breed is a love for the breed, combined with a knowl- 
edge of the characteristics of the breed and an apprecia- 
tion of its weak points. Our favorites, the Leghorns, 
have been highly praised, very highly, and they deserve it; 
but let no beginner take up this or any other breed, thinking 
it combines all excellencies and that he can raise one hun- 
dred per cent of choice exhibition birds. 

We have recently seen a number of articles on the line 
of the old adage, "Honesty is the best policy." We believe 
this is true, but there should be a higher motive for honesty 
than simply the money it will bring us. We are inclined to 
believe that the fanciers of America are above the average 
citizen in their regard for honesty, but we are also confident 
that there is a chance for our improvement in a love for the 
right. We can best advance the interests of our favorite 
breed when we are strictly honest in our description as well 
as in our business transactions. 

In our own experience with Leghorns we have found 
many obstacles to overcome and at times some obstacles that 
well-nigh overcame us. We commenced with this breed in 
1876 with a strain of Single Comb White Leghorns that were 
excellent in some respects, but that had very large combs, 
larger in many cases than a winning Minorca of to-day. By 
taking pains in selection and in our purchase of new blood 
we were soon able to get rid of this "beefy" comb; but we 
still find plenty of care necessary to produce combs ap- 
proaching perfection in both sexes. Another drawba'jk with 
us for several years was the tendency to yellow on backs of 
males. This, too, by careful breeding, we were able to large- 
ly overcome. The squirrel tail is another fault that has an- 
noyed many a Leghorn breeder. And right here let us give 
a warning to be careful in the selection of new blood. It 
often happens that a breeder will purchase a male for new 
blood that is, apparently, a fair specimen of the variety, 
when really he is entirely unfit to breed from. The only 
sate way, unless buying from a breeder of whose stock we 
have positive knowledge, is to mate our new bird with one or 



two choice hens and carefully note the quality of the chicks 
produced. If satisfactory, we can then use the cock and his 
offspring in our matings for the next season, but if the 
chicks show bad faults likely to injure our strain, we can 
then discard both the cock and the few chicks produced from 
him without serious loss. This may seem like a year's waste 
of time, in some cases, but better by far do this than breed 
into your fiock a fault that will take years to overcome. 

Great care is necessary in the selection of breeding 
stock. First see that the blood lines are good, then that each 
individual specimen placed in the breeding pen is not only 
free from any glaring defects, but good in all points. It 
pays far better to breed from half a dozen hens that are all 
extra choice than from a flock of ten or fifteen that contains 
a few choice hens and several very ordinary specimens. 

Select a male that has a comb as smooth as possible on 
the sides, evenly serrated, not projecting too far in front nor 
following the shape of the neck behind. A bird with good 
red eyes, a well-shaped, pure white earlobe and without 
white in face. He should have legs of good length and bright 
yellow in color. The standard reads, back of "medium 
length," but better use a male with back a trifle long than 
one too short in back, that carries its tail forward of the ver- 
tical line. Color, "pure white throughout." This is perfec- 
tion; but if we expect to approach this, we must select both 
male and females as near a clear white as possible, both in 
web Rnd quill and especially must the male be free from 
straw color on hackle and back. The hens should be large 
and well shaped and good layers and as great care should be 
observed in the selection of hens with good head points, good 
legs, good backs and tails as in the selection of the male. 

With our pens well mated with choice stock, we may 
hope that we are started toward success. But we can truly 
succeed only by giving the breeding stock the best of care, 
the young chicks constant attention from the shell to the 
exhibition hall and by a continuous and judicious use of 
printer's ink, accompanied by a purpose to give every cus- 
tomer good value for his money. C. J. OLDFIELD. 













tM- 



W • 



m 


















PELI/»fclLE " 



A?OSf COMB WHITE LEGHORNS AS EGG PRODUCERS. 



The Experience of the Writer Induces Him to Uphold this Variety as Well for their Beauty and Sprlghlllness as for 

their Early Maturity and Egg Producing Proclivities. 



By B. C. Smith. 



HEREAFTER we shall devote our two farms to the 
raising of Rose Comb White Leghorns and White 
Wyandottes. All our time and energy will be de- 
voted to these two grand varieties. We have kept 
Leghorns many years, and this final decision is not an ex- 
periment, but a conclusion reached after years of study, hard 
work and experience which tells us that the R. C. White Leg- 
horn is well worthy of our choice. 

The Rose Comb White Leghorn certainly gives satisfac- 
tion to the most fanciful of fanciers, to the man of wealth as 
well as the man of lesser means. It the right stock is first 
obtained, no fancier can want more than this beautiful bird. 
Snow white plumage, bright red comb and wattles, clear 
white earlobes, bright red eyes, yellow legs, and a fine light 
carriage, showing favorably on the green lawn or In show 
room. What variety can bring In more of an income to the 
laboring man than the R. C. W. Leghorns? They are ex- 



ceptionally hardy, are easy feeders, good workers, and are 
naturally clean, strong and healthful. It is seldom that any 
sickness comes to them, while in the cold northern climates 
their low combs are not easily frozen and they are the best 
of layers of large white eggs. 

The young are easily raised and mature quickly. I find 
them of good size, and the laying qualities are above the 
average Leghorns. They commence laying early in the fall 
and never let up until old age overtakes them. This is put- 
ting it pretty strong, but as I say to my wife during the 
molting season, "Did you ever see anything like it?" 

Each year we take special pains to mate up the best lay- 
ers of the previous season and in eight years have them en- 
tirely under our control. To this method of mating we at- 
tribute our success in obtaining increased egg production 
from our Rose Comb White Leghorns. 

B. G. SMITH.. 



Loi! 



R. C. WHITE AND S. C. BLACK LEGHORNS. 



Breed for Both Utility and Beauty—Contrary to Usage the Male Is Said to Control Shape end the Female Color- 
Pedigree Breeding— Birds that "Score 100 In the Shade." 



By P. H. edufards. 



IN BREEDING the Leghorn, as in any other breed of 
fowls, or in fact, any kind of stock, keep two things in 
view, practical utility and show room beauty. I place 
utility first, as without size, strength, and vitality, you 
cannot hope for show birds that will reproduce themselves. 
Build on a foundation of vigorous health, select as good 
specimens otherwise as possible, and success is youre. 

Do not start as cheaply as possible, and do not pay fab- 
ulous prices for stock you know little or nothing about. Do 
not buy indifferent stock and expect to breed up to some- 
thing fine; you may do it in time, but it will cost you more 
than to buy good ones at the beginning, not counting lost 
time. Breed from the largest stock you can get. Always 
set the largest pure white, perfect shaped eggs. I have set 
nothing but the largest eggs for years, until at the Colorado 
Springs Poultry Show last winter the hall superintendent 
said my pen of R. C. W. Leghorns laid the largest egg of any 
bird of any breed in the show room. 

Breed from a female that is long in body, neck, and leg. 
Comb fine and even on the head, and in size to conform to 
the rest of the bird, and from a male that is compact, with 
full breast; tail carried low, heavy plumage, legs long; comb 
and head the very best you can obtain, as upon this depends 
in great part the shape of comb and head of your chicks. 

Select the male first for shape, second for color; the fe- 
male, first, for color, second for shape; but have both quali- 
fications as good in each as possible. 

In color, either White, Buff or Black, select the bird 
with the best under-color, other things being equal, and 
with the desired color in the shaft feathers of tail and 
wings. 

In the white bird look for a blue white, not creamy 
white, in the shaft feathers. 

Breed from mature stock, it will give you stronger 
chicks, and you can tell before you use a bird in the breed- 
ing yards whether his or her color will stay with thpra after 
the molt or leave them after the first year. 

Keep a record of all stock; then by knowing just what 
mating produces the best chicks, you know where to go for 
more of the same kind. My experience teaches me that in 
order to obtain what you want you must breed from the de- 
scription of bird that suits you. 

My first attempt with Leghorns was in 1893, at which 
time I had the S. C. Black variety. In 1894 I produced a yel- 
low legged, black hen, the equal of which in color of legs 
and plumage I think was never seen outside of our stock. 
She went through the show room year after year, always 
winning first, up to the last Mid-Continental show at Kan- 
sas City, Mo., when she was shown with one of her sons, a 



yellow-legged cockerel, each winning a first prize in a large 
class. 

In 1895 I first exhibited a R. C. White Leghorn, winning 
extensively at Colorado Springs. The next year I bred from 
the same stock and was successful in the show room. The 
next year I bred from a bird that won as cockerel and as 
cock. Last year I bred from birds sired by first cock at 
Madison Square Garden, New York, 1897, and again the pro- 
duce won. 




Mr. P. H. Edwards' Winning R. C. W. Leghorn Cociterel. 

It will be seen that to breed winners I bred from win- 
ners, and I never failed. Like will produce like the same in 
poultry as in other things, and if your stock of birds will 
not hatch uniformly you have mongrel blood somewhere, 
and the way to do is to find it by single mating, then throw 
it out. If it is In all your stock, throw them all out, and 
buy from some one who can prove to you that he has what 
he claims— thoroughbred stock that will produce its kind. 

The illustration herewith is of a R. C. White cockerel 
that has won first every time he has been shown. By the 
way, whenever any one tells you they have a bird that 
scored away up to one hundred and then some in the shade, 
just ask them who were the judges. For there are judges 
and judges. p. h. EDWARDS. 




SINGLE COMB BVfF LEGHORNS. 



BUFF LEGHORNS FOR SHOW AND TABLE. 



Keep Back of Comb Clear of Neck — Inbreed to Fix Desirable Characteristics — Temperament of Birds Depends 

Much on Attendant — Details In Breeding for Exhibition. 



By William H. Bushell. 



JUST a few words to the beginner in breeding Buff Leg- 
horns. First get good' stock or eggs from a reliable 
breeder for your foundation. If you start right you 
will go right. In mating up your pens for breeding, 
first pick out a good male bird with an even golden buffi sur- 
face color with some bronze feathers in tail color, the bird to 
carry tail rather low; comb as near Ave pdints as you can 
get it, with broad base and standing erect, back of comb to 
be well clear of neck; lobes white and as free from red as 
possible; also a good yellow leg and the bird to stand well 
up on his legs. We cannot get all the good points in one 
bird, but we must get as near as we can and then make up 
the defects with the females. I like to breed froni birds with 
clear buff wings, and hackle clear golden buff clear down to 
the skin, then you may expect good young stock and you 
will not be disappointed. In picking out the females to go 
with this male get them as near an even color like the breast 
of male, with good combs and lobes and yellow legs; wings 
clear buff, but if you are breeding to a light colored male 
some dark bron/.e in wing feathers will do all right, in fact 
it is best to breed both ways; in using two pens a person can 
do that. Now tho females to go with the dark-tailed 
male may have the tips of tail feathers a very light 
buff, almost white. I like a good, deep under-color in 
females, and in the dark male a very strong under-color. 
In using females with some very light buff feathers in tail 
tips I keep the smut away and produce the rich golden buff. 
When you have a pen of good old birds keep them to breed 
from and save some of your very best pullets each year 
to breed from after they are a year old, then you will get 
good, strong chicks and eggs that will hatch in the incuba- 
tor. By the way, that is the way to hatch chickens and beat 
the lice, but you must still go further and raise your chick- 
ens in a brooder. So many people make the fatal mistake- of 
giving the chicks over to the hens to raise; do not do it. We 
have not had to use any kind of louse destroyer now for two 
years, and my birds are free from lice. We do not let a hen 
sit on a nest over night, but provide good dust baths for 
them, and they will take care of themselves. If you have 
a good male bird that just suits you and you want to 
stamp his good qualities upon your flock, breed him back on 
his pullets, even to the third generation. I have the finest 
male bird I ever saw, and have refused a very high price for 
him several times; he wins first money wherever shown; he 
is just a grand bird, and I have bred him back to his pullets 
to the third generation, and his get have always won their 
share of prizes and the top prizes at that. This year is a 



surprise to me and all the breeders who visit my yards. The 
young stock are even in color with good Leghorn shape, and 
very few culls. We cannot get enough culls for our table. 
Some people claim that Leghorns are wild, that you cannot 
keep them inside a ten-foot high fence; I keep mine inside a 
four-foot fence. It is the people who handle the birds that 
are wild. Go among your birds quietly and feed them out of 
your hand little knick-knacks. Teach them from the start 
that you do not intend to hurt them, and do not try to catch 
them to show to everybody who comes your way. If you 
take a stranger into your yards with you, you go first and 
take some food they are fond of, and get your chicks all 
around you and show the people how nice and tame your 
birds are. 

Now a few words about Buff Leghorns as winter layers. 
I consider them the best winter layers we have had. To get 
eggs in winter, in the first place you need a good, tight house 
and plenty of room for them, with a scratching room parti- 
tioned off, and a dust room. I give fifty pullets a house 
eight by twenty-tour feet, divided into roost room, scratch- 
ing room, and dust room. I renew the straw once a week in 
the scratching room, and I do not let my birds go outdoors 
all winter. After they are housed a week they stop fretting 
and start to laying. If you let them run out every good day, 
and shut up stormy days it keeps them restless, but to keep 
them shut up all the time, they lay regularly. We feed 
wheat in the morning and raw vegetables at noon and a 
mash of coarse beans and oats and some wheat, mixed with 
a pint cf meat meal to fifty hens. This we scald at noon and 
feed at night. We scatter a few handfuls of millet seed in 
the straw once a day, also feed some alfalfa hay or clover 
twice a week, and give warm water to drink. One thing I 
do like about the Leghorn pullets is, the more you fuss 
with them in the winter the more eggs you will get. I do 
not think you can get a Buff Leghorn pullet too fat if you 
will see that they keep their food eaten up clean. You need 
not worry about not giving them a light feed at noon. My 
observation is with them if you want eggs feed for them 
and keep the house just warm enough so the pullets' combs 
will not freeze, and my way to do that is during extreme 
cold weather, shut off the dust room part; that makes less 
room for the birds to keep warm. Just a word about the 
table qualities of the Buff Leghorn. They are not surpassed 
except by the Indian Game. You will never tire of their 
meat. We can use them three or four times a week and still 
be chicken hungry for the next one. 

W. H. BUSHELL. 



BUFF LEGHORNS FOR EXHIBITION. 



A Warning Regarding the Principal Defects of this Variety — Shun White In Plumage^Even Surface Given Prefer- 
ence Over Undercolor by Intelligent Judges. 



Hy Frank H. Hawley. 



TO MY MIND the first and most essential thing that 
will lead the beginner to successful breeding of high- 
class Buff Leghorns is to know what a good Leg- 
horn is. This cannot be learned from the standard 
alone. One must attend the poultry shows and see the birds 
themselves, ask the owners of the prize winners to take 
them out and show their fine points, then study your stand- 
ard and compare these birds with the standard require- 
ments. We should all have some definite object in view 
toward which we are working; form some ideal, which you 
are sure will win in any company, and then set to work to 
breed these winners. To do this in any reasonable time, my 
advice to the beginner would be, buy the best stock you can 
get, buy something that has been bred along a certain line 
for a long time. Have that line of breeding as near what 
you want to breed as possible and then stick to that strain. 
Do not mix up half a dozen strains to introduce "new blood," 
for you will surely get a nondescript if you do. Do cot be 
afraid of inbreeding the first year or two, and if you get good 
results from a certain pen this year, keep that pen intact 
for next year and add a few of your best, strongest pullets 
to this same pen. Of course good common sense must be 
used in the selection of these pullets, and it must not be kept 
up too long. The above rules apply to all breeds, as well as 
Buff Leghorns. 

lu breeding Buff Leghorns there are a few points that 
the beginner should be very shy of, for when they are once 
introduced into a fiock they are very hard to eradicate, such 
as while in wings and tail, bad combs and lobes, poor shape, 
stubs on legs, blue legs, etc., etc. 

I have found that I can produce better birds from a male 
showing dark in wings and tail than from a bird showing 



white in those sections. If you will mate a male and female 
each showing a little dark in both wings and tail, not black, 
yon will stand a chance to produce chicks almost clear in 
these sections, but if you use birds showing white you will 
surely have white in wings and tails. Beware of the long 
white quills in wing feathers. 

Under-color is a fine thing to have on all birds, but do 
not think that under-color alone will make a bird win. It is 
the soft, even shade of surface color, whether dark, medium 
or light, that takes the eye of the intelligent judge as well as 
the fancier. Such a bird should win, other things being 
considered equal, even though not so strong in under-color, 
over a mottled, blotchy surfaced bird that has very superior 
under-color. 

Ii is very important to mate together birds of the same 
color, that is, if you have a light male bird do not mate 
very dark females to him, and vice versa, for you are sure 
to produce mottled birds by so doing. 

Nothing adds more to the appearance of a Leghorn than 
a fine, bright, shapely comb, and if this section is given 
proper attention in breeding, the combs are easily controlled. 
It is a sad fact^ but nevertheless true, that no two judges 
have yet been able to agree on what is true buff color. So 
long as this is true, the breeders are in a measure at sea, and 
all that we can do is to have our own ideal, which should be 
as near a combination of all the judges' ideals as possible. 
The study of how to produce the proper buff color on birds 
with clear wings and tail, is very fascinating and how to 
hold it after we get it, is another interesting problem. Too 
much cannot be said in favor of the Buffi Leghorns, as they 
are a grand breed and have come to stay. 

FRANK H. HAWLEY. 



MATING BUFF LEGHORNS FOR COLOR AND SHAPE. 



By Aug. D. Arnold. 



THE origin of the Buff Leghorn is not known to a cer- 
tainty, but we have pretty good evidence that they 
orginally came from Denmark, and whatever make- 
up they may have, we know that in Leghorn charac- 
teristics they want nothing. 

To the fanciers of England belong the credit of taking 
up this variety first, that is, from a fancier's standpoint. 
The most prominent of these English fanciers were Mrs. 
Lister-Kaye, George Payne and Messrs. Geffekin & Field. It 
was left to the fanciers of America to perfect the Buff Leg- 
horns, and our birds are now far ahead of those of England. 
Perhaps no breed or variety of fowls ever had so much 
opposition as had the Buff Leghorn when first introduced to 
American fanciers, but to-day they stand on an equality 



with their cousins, the Whites and Browns, and score just as 
high in the show room. The improvement made in this vari- 
ety since their advent to this country has been phenomenal. 
No one has noticed this more than the writer, who intro- 
duced the first of the birds to the fanciers of America, and 
has bred and exhibited them for nearly ten years. 

The first birds of the variety that ever set foot on Amer- 
ican soil were imported by the writer in the fall of 1S90. 
They were put on exhibition for the first time at the Hagers- 
town fair that taXi, and later on at Madison Square Garden, 
New York. Some fanciers took a fancy to them and pre- 
dicted a warm place for them in the hearts of the American 
fanciers, while others saw fit to say all manner of evil 
against them: quite a number of our leading fanciers, how- 



THE LEGHORNS. 



71 




ever, took them up, paying high prices for stocli aud eggs, 
and were willing to accept what was on hand as foundation 
blood. Most of the birds imported at that time were of un- 
even color, and possessed as much white In tails and wings 
as they did buff. Many birds had blue, and others willow 
legs. By a few years' breeding we succeeded in getting black 
in tails instead of white, which was preferable at that stage 
of the breed, and in a few more years a great improvement 
was noticed in color of wings and tail, also in leg color, so 
that to-day there are some specimens that come near perfec- 
tion. Much work is still on hand, 
however, for the progressive fan- 
cier along the line of improve- 
ment. 

We find very few real good 
combs in this variety, especially 
in males, while we find some 
strains that are off in leg color. 
We have noticed this particularly 
where under-color is ignored. If 
you would keep the rich yellow 
leg and skin, watch the under- 
color closely. Short legs, squir- 
rel tail, and under size, all must 
be kept out of our flocks; yet as 
regard.? size we do not believe in 
breeding a Leghorn up to the size 
of a Minorca. A fair-sized Leg- 
horn is what should be sought 
after. Great care should be taken 
so that two light birds may not 
be mated together, and always 
keep in mind the "cotton tails." 
which the Buff Leghorn was so 
apt to sport when first intro- 
duced to American fanciers. It 
is much better to breed dark 
birds together than light ones. 
Good results can be had from 
mating medium colors together 
for a season or two, but it is safe 
to keep on the dark side. As 
good a mating as we know of is a 
lot of females dark buff, with a 
male one shade darker. When 
we say dark bufl we do not mean 
red, but a medium dark. 

The beginner should aim to 
get his start in any variety from 
an experienced breeder, one who 
has made a study of a breed, 

knowing that culls from such a breeder are worth more 
to breed from than the best birds from the yards of a 
breeder who has had very little experience in the variety he 
wishes to take up. He will also need to learn that off-col- 
ored chicks will come from the best of matings no matter 
how much experience the breeder has had. This is as it 
should be, for if every bird raised should happen to be a per- 
fect bird, the fancier's work would soon be at an end. The 
scarcity of the diamond has much to do with its value. 

The shade of buff that is called for by the standard is 
what so few can comprehend. Even judges seem to differ on 
this point. In our minds the shade of buff is not of such 



great importance, as long as it does not prove either of the 
two extremes. A medium buff is what we should strive tor. 
Evenness of color, too, is of the greatest importance; all 
sections should be one even shade. 

Very few persons who now have the pleasure to look at 
the beautiful Buff Leghorn as it appears in our leading 
shows have any idea of the cost, patience and time it has 
takon to place them in the position they now occupy in the 
poultry world. Pardon us for saying we have spent a small 
fortune to get this breed before the fanciers of this country. 










M'- 



riftDlOflN 54U«Rt <;«RDt« ■ 






A New York Winner: Owned and Bred by Aug. D. Arnold, Illustrating the Heavy, Blacky 
Style that Formerly Prevailed Among Butt Leghorns. 



We have paid out many hundred dollars for birds we im- 
ported, having paid over $800 for eight birds from the yards 
of Mrs. Lister-Kaye, of England, besides buying a number at 
prices running from $30 to $7.5 per head, and nearly one hun- 
dred breeders additional, none of which we got for less than 
fifteen dollars per head. 

In conclusion we will say all real fanciers should be 
proud of the success that has crowned the efforts of the fan- 
ciers of America in improving and getting this valuable 
variety of the Leghorn family so near perfection. We shall 
ever feel proud of the honor of introducing the beautiful 
Buff Leghorn to this country. AUG. D. ARNOLD. 



BUFF LEGHORNS, 



Methods Adopted In Breeding for Color— White Said to be Less Undesirable than Black^Vnderiolor txtra Strong 
Foretells Red In the Produce—Surface Color of Greatest Importance. 



By f. G. Marquardt. 



IN BREEDING Buff Leghorns the first important point to 
consider is your means to procure the parent stocli. If 
you have the cash to invest, in a pair or trio of No. 1 
birds from a reputable breeder, you are all right, espe- 
cially for the first season, but if this all important factor is 
lacking you must get the best birds you can afford. To per- 
sons so situated a little of my experience might be a help 
and benefit. 

I have read much about mating for buff color, especially 
that which was written by our Buff Cochin and Buff Rock 
breeders, and to all appearances they prefer the black to the 
white in plumage. 

This is where most make a great mistake. Buff Leg- 
horns were never bothered much with black in plumage, 
mostly white, and by judicious selection they have been bred 
to a soft, even buff without a trace of black, white or meali- 
ness, nor do cockerels show red wing bows. One of the best 
cockerels I ever raised was sired by a cockerel that had a 
tail which was intermixed with white. This bird scored 
ninety-four points as a cockerel by Judges Shellabarger and 
Russell at two different shows and was only cut one point on 
plumage. He also won second at Chicago in 1898 as cock, 
and was only cut half a point on color of plumage by Judge 
Pierce, losing on comb, which met with an accident, and this 
bird has almost invariably bred me solid colored chicks. 

I believe it can be safely said that the Buff Leghorns of 
to-day are the best buff breed in the standard and breed 
closer to the ideal buff color. Take for instance the class of 
one hundred and one birds in Chicago in 1898. It was con- 
sidered by most judges the finest colored buff class in the 
show and was the admiration of all buff breeders. 

Under-color should not be lost sight of, although I do 
not think it is nearly as important as surface color. In male 
birds a good medium under-color is what we want, as too 
much will, as a rule, run to red in chicks. Pullets with a 
soft, even shade of surface color are preferable to mate to 



such males. Under-color can be two shades lighter than 
surface. Such birds will give you a good percentage of buff 
chicks. 

Extreme matings I do not approve of. It is true you 
get a few good birds for show purposes, but most of the 
females have salmon-colored breast and cockerels are red, 
and to sell such birds to a customer I consider a gi-eat 
wrong, as they will invariably throw chicks the color of the 
parent stock. In all my ten years of experience I have been 
practicing the standard mating and can say it has given me 
the best results, especially so in the last three years. 

Shape should not be lost track of, this being forcibly 
brought to mind when we see so many cockerels with such 
high tails. This can be overcome in one season by using a 
cockerel with very low tail, the lower the better. Chicks 
from such a bird will be O. K. even if some of the females 
have high tails. 

Too much cannot be said in favor of Buff Leghorns as 
layers. I have had some grand egg yields from them, and 
their large chalk white eggs find a very ready sale on the 
market. 

In conclusion, let me impress it upon the minds of ama- 
teurs — do not be tempted to use too many females in your 
breeding pen, rather one or two very good hens than six or 
twelve just medium. 

I have raised fltty-five chicks from one pullet in a single 
season and most of the pullets were laying by Christmas, 
and from such a number, or even half, you can choose a pen 
or pair that will pay you for all your trouble and expense. 

You might say, well, am I not inbreeding? Yes, you are, 
but you are also establishing a strain of birds that you can 
rely upon and when you mate such you know just what to 
expect by selecting the healthiest and strongest, best col- 
ored and shaped, from year to year, you raise a race of win- 
ners that will win for you in any battle. 

E. G. MARQUARDT. 



LEGHORNS AT AN ENGLISH SHOW. 



By Sharp Butterfleld. 



IN THE Leghorn class at the Crystal Palace Show there 
were eleven Brown Leghorn cocks and cockerels, and 
twelve hens— any age. We have seen, these last few 
years, several articles written on the size of our Ameri- 
can Leghorns. Well, they are not quite as large as the Eng- 
lish. I will describe the latter, both Brown and White, as 
they are much the same in shape, style and carriage. The 
combs on both males and females are much larger and 
coarser than we desire. The male comb lies close to the 
head in the rear. The best comb I saw would be getting off 
easy with us if cut two or three points. They are very like 
the Minorca comb, but larger than the majority of Minorca 
combs on this side of the water, and not so good. The 



American standard requires good combs in proportion to 
size of bird, hence the difference between a Leghorn and 
Minorca. The wattles and earlobes are more of the Minorca 
type, in fact, the whole body and tail are far more like a 
Minorca than an American Leghorn. They are comparative- 
ly shorter on leg than the American, very straight in back, 
and quite small in tail. The color of the Brown male's neck 
is a lemon or lightish straw color. Very few of them show 
any striping on neck, and I saw none with striping on sad- 
dle. The saddle feathers are much the same color as our 
American birds, less the striping. I leave your readers to 
put their own value on an English Leghorn male. 

The females are much more like what we want in color 



THE LEGHORNS. 



ir 



of body, wing surface and back, and if they had smaller, 
neater combs they would certainly be a great acquisition in 
color for our breeders for pullet-breeding. The necks of the 
female are very pale lemon, and I do not know that I saw 
one v/ith anything like a distinct black stripe in neck hackle. 
I examined some and found them very gray in wing and 
some with two inches of white on {lights. Some of the win- 
ners at the Palace had not down but feathers between the 
toes. I have thought, and still believe, that our standard has 
been too severe on Leghorns in its disqualifications, hence 
the smallness of size in American Leghorns, as compared 
with the English, but while American Leghorns are smaller, 
they have their distinctive features and you could not show 
them as Minorcas by simply changing the color of leg. They 
are too dissimilar in shape, leaving size out of the question. 



It would be a long, long time before American breeders 
would be satisfied with the color, comb or shape of an Eng- 
lish Brown Leghorn male. The White Leghorns are a little 
longer on leg that the Browns, otherwise they are the same 
in every particular except color. One prominent exhibitor 
said to me, "How would these birds suit the Americans?" I 
told him we would call them Yellow-legged Minorcas. Said 
I, "Could you not show them as White Minorcas and win, if 
they had white legs?" "You bet I could," he replied. Your 
readers will see pretty clearly what the English Brown and 
White Leghorns are as compared with the American. The 
other varieties of English Leghorns are much the same in 
size as the American. They have the Pile, Black, Buff and 
Duckwing, all of which were better represented than the 
Browns and Whites. SHARP BUTTERPIELD. 










' EXHIBITION PEii( 
NEW YORK, 1595 

SflED 'MIOOVTfSEO flv 

ITHlCftN^Y- 



Qfry: 



ai^ - 



^1 






New York Prize Wlaolag Butt Legliorns. 



DEC '-"^ 1904 



BLACK LEGHORNS. 



By R. E. Haeger. 



BLACK LEGHORNS were first imported from Italy in 
1872 and admitted to the standard in 1876. Although 
not bred extensively until the last three or four 
years, still they are forging their way to the front, 
and I see no reason why they are not equal to any of the 
other Leghorn varieties, while in some things I think they 
surpass all others. Their plumage being a black through- 
out, does not soil as easily as that of any other color. Un- 
like most black fowls, they are fine for table use, dressing 
yellow, and the fiesh being of fine quality. 

As to fancy points, the Black Leghorns are exactly like 
the Browns and Whites in symmetry. The plumage should 
be a glossy black, although we find a great many a dead 
black, which should suffer a cut for color. Breeders should 
be careful of color of eyes, because I think Minorca blood 
has brought in not alone dark eyes, but also black shanks, 
coarse heads and shape of body. What would Franklane 
Sewell think of a Langshan with a bay eye? Although 
judges do not cut as frequently as they should on color of 
the eyes, still I think it is of great importance. 

Another question among the admirers of this variety is, 
color of the shanks. When first admitted they were to be 
yellov/, but finding they could not get as bright a yellow as 
they wished, this was changed to the black. Then again 
they were changed to yellow, or yellowish black, and that is 
what the standard now calls for. In regard to this argu- 
ment, I will say that I do not try to breed yellow shanks, 
first, because I do not think a solid yellow shank belongs 



with a black plumage. None of our other black varieties 
call for yellow shanks. Then why call for them on Black 
Leghorns? Second, because I know that nine-tenths of yel- 
low-legged Black Leghorns either throw off-colored feathers 
while chicks or when they molt out as fowls. The best of 
them will do this, and that is my principal reason for not 
trying to breed yellow shanks. 

I hold that the only color, and the proper color for their 
shanks should be a yellowish black. I do not mean by this 
that they should have a slaty black, but a bright yellowish 
black on the shank, with the upper side of the toes and the 
lower side of the toes and feet a pure yellow. By breeding 
the shanks and toes this color, we can keep the plumage and 
other sections where they belong. 

I think this question ought to be brought before the 
Judges as well as the breeders, for a careful consideration, as 
hardly two .iudges cut alike on the color of shanks. I have 
score cards by several of the very best judges, and only two, 
so far, have taken a yellowish black as standard color. Some 
would tut half a point, while the next one would cut one and 
a half points. Now, while the standard calls for a yellow or 
yellowish black, 1 cannot see why a yellowish black is not as 
near perfect as yellow, but there are judges who do not 
think that way. 

I would like to hear what the judges, as well as breed- 
ers, have to say about this, as it should be settled, so breed- 
ers ma.v know what to aim for in breeding, as well as to 
know what to bring out in the exhibition room. 

R. B. HAEGER. 



ENGLISH LLGHORNS. 



from the Fanciers* Gaicite, London, tnaland. 



THE subject of this essay is a very attractive one to 
me, and I believe it will be found equally so to a 
very large section of the poultry fanc'iers of this 
country, for the Leghorn is a breed that has taken 
a very strong hold here since its introduction, over 
twenty years ago, both for its usefulness and also ornamen- 
tal qualities. The two varieties I Brown and White) are 
what may be considered the original Leghorns, and were 
for years the only recognized colors till the recent desire 
sprang up for varieties and novelties, of which I must not. 
of course, treat here, as no doubt they will have their turn 
in your capital essays. First, tlien, to the Browns; and 
here let me remark that, as a matter of course, many of my 
suggestions Ihat relate to general Leghorn points need not 
be again repeated in Whites. 

First, then, the Brown cock or cockerel for cockerel 
breeding. Pay strict attention to the fact that you have a 
perfectly erect sound, evenly serrated comb, with sufficient 
substance at the base to carry it in its present erect condi- 
tion, and in this and all other breeding pens be careful that 
it is a Leghorn, and not a IMinorca comb; and, if opportunity 
offers, do not fail to carefully inspect the parents of any bird 
you may be inclined to breed from — either male or female. 
[By reference to the article entitled "Leghorns at an Eng- 
glish Show," on page 72, where the present type of 
English Leghorn is described, it will be seen that not- 
withstanding the warning given by the writer of this essay, 
the Minorca style of comb is yet prevalent in England. — Ed- 
itor.] For cockerel breeding, too, it is wise to lay plenty 
of stress on brightness of color, and large, smooth lobes; 
do not, by any means, allow a hackle that is not clear 
in its striping, and, above all, sound in color. I need 
hardly add that the bird should have good carriage 
and style, nicely carried tail, and clear, bright yellow legs. 
Hens, for the same purpose, should be finely and nicely 
penciled, and of a nice light brown color; if a little red in 
wing, a thing so objectionable in show pullets, they will 
be all the better for this purpose, as it adds to the rich- 
ness in their sons' color. The cnnibs should fall evenly on 
one side, and be careful that they are of good size. This is 



perhaps more important tor cock than pullet breeding. 

Let your cockerels be less bright in color, and of the 
darker type, large in comb — which, however, must not be 
coarse, and the serrations should be nicely cut; the striping 
of his hackie should be broader than in the cock breeders, 
and the bird of a generally finer type throughout. Here, too 
— and, in fact, in all cases — do not fail to consider the qual- 
ity of the lobe. The hens should be large-combed, bright, 
clear-legged birds, and any tendency, either here or in the 
cock breeders, to daik feet should be studiously avoidid, for 
it is an objectionable feature, and one that is sure to be re- 
produced, and, to my mind, detracts fearfully from the looks 
of an otherwise handsome bird in the show pen. These 
birds, quite differently from the cock breeders, should be 
perfectly free from red in wing, or if not possible to get such, 
then have as little of it as you possibly can. 

In Whites the amateur may obtain better results in 
the way of both sexes from one breeding pen than it is pos- 
sible to do in the Browns, though I very much doubt whether 
it be possible for him to do as well as if he mated separately. 
Pay attention to all the general Leghorn characteristics, as 
desciibed in my notes on Browns; and further, see that your 
cock bird is free from straw color on his back and saddle 
hackles, and that both he and his wives have a good depth of 
color in their legs, as there has in many strains become a 
tendency to paleness in leg, brought about probably by the 
efforts to keep the plumage as pure in color as possible; for 
while I do not agree with some who assert that a canary tint 
is correct in a White Leghorn — and I do much prefer a pure 
white color — I must admit that it is preferable to have a 
faint tinge of yellow color in the plumage combined with a 
lovely yellow leg, rather than the pale, washy legs one some- 
times sees exhibited. In the breeding of Whites, those who 
can find tree^ and such like natural shade, or failing this, 
who provide artificial shade, will be wise to avail themselves 
of it, and cannot fail, especially in a strong season when we 
get "first a shower and then a shine," to reap great benefits 
therefrom; for, in my opinion, it is such a season as above 
described, rather than a tropical summer like that of last 
year, that stains an otherwise white bird's plumage. 



I? 







TO MAHE MOMSY 




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1 1 IC W I rtl 1 U\J I 1 1. J methods of such successful Wyandotte specialists as Henry Steinmesch, I. C. Kellei , A. G. Uuston, 
—•—^-^^^^^^—^^ (- g Mstti .on, Ezra Cornell, etc. You can judge your Wyandottes by the numerous full-page 
standard charts— every section is illustrated and described. Handsome color jilates of White and Cartridge Wy- Kftf 

andottes by F. L. .Scwell. Second Edltlon,86 pages, 2 color plates, 'jb illustrations OUC. 

THF I FrHftRNC The best illustrated Standard of all varieties of the popular Leghorns. Mating schemes are described 
1 1 IC LCVil l\/l\i i3 clearly for each variety — including the double mating of the Browns. You cannot afford to be without the 
valuable information written by such renowned ejcperts as X. K. Felch, F. H, Shellabarger, Ezra Coruell, 
W, S. Russell, F. B. Zimmer, W. E Bright, etc. Color plate of prize winning Wliite Leghorns by F. L. Sewell. I^ftn 

Second Edition, "8 pages, 37 illustrations OUC. 

A CI ATI/"C Breeders of Brahmas, Cochins and Langshans can't afford to be without this modern work. Contains the "inside" 
ftJIfA I IV- J information so necessary to .succes.s and impossible to secure elsewhere. Written by the leading fanciers of each 
""■■~~"^~~" breed. Contains standard or ideal charts of all the varieties. Consult this work before you select specimens for 
the breeding pen or for the exhibition. Color plates of Buff and Partridge Cochins by F. L. Sewell. 100 pages of ^(ig^ 

practical advice, 2 color plates, 72 illustrations OvC* 

p/-/-C AlSjn per FARMC The most practical work published on the profitable production and marketing of eggs. A 
LViVIJ nl^U CVlVj rMRl Ij few of the money-making chapters are: how to obtain eggs in winter; how to secure strong- 
^"~'~—""~~~~~""~'^~'~'~*"^ germed fertile eggs, pullets vs. liens as egg-producers, at what age to sell hens, pedigree- 
breeding to produce a heavy-laj-ing strain, requirements of egg trade, egg preservation, etc. Foremost poultrymen of the 
world give latest methods of selecting, feeding and housing layers. Second Edition, 100 pages, 62 illustra- Iflr 

tions JUC 

Dni II TRY Hni If FQ ANn FIYTI IRFC shows plans of low-cost, practical and labor-saving houses, designs for all 
rUUL In! tlv/U,Jl- J nnU riAIUltl-J inside fixtures, such as nest boxes, watering devices, grit boxes, roosts, drop 
^^~^~^^~~"~~"™~™™"'"^""^"""™^"^'"""~'~ ")oards, etc., also coops for young chickens, roosting coops, special box for 
breaking up sitting hens, and all other necessary appliances. Valuable for the farmer or poultryman who '>'?/• 

keeps few or miny fowls. Sixth Edition, 36 pages, 64 illustrations £OLt 

ni irKC ATSjn rFFCF contains the actual labor saving methods followed on the great duck ranches, and by farmers who 
uUV-liJ ^\l^U ViCCJL . make duck and geese growing profitable branches. Tells how to locate and operate small or exten- 
——^——-^^—— sjve duck ranches successfully, how to hatch and grow the ducklings and market ttaem with profit. 
Gives all details of hatching, rearing, fattening and marketing geese. Second Edition, 68 pages, 34 illus- lift*. 

trations JUC. 

TI IDKFYC Every detail of the turkey business is explained fully and clearly in this up-to-date and practical work. It solves 
I UltlVC I 3 comprehensively the different branches in the market and standard-bred turkey industries. Written by the 
'~^~~^^~ world's foremost turkey growers, among whom are Mrs. Mackey, Mrs. Jones, S. B. Johnston. J. F. Crangle, W. J. 
Bell, B. F. Ulrey, B. F. Hisloo, W. A. Moon, etc. You can make money by growing and marketing turkeys. F. L. Sewell has 
painted an ideal pair of Bronze Turkeys for a frontispiece. Second Edition, 84 pages, 1 color plate, 37 iIlus- tifir- 

trations OWt. 

RAUTAM Cr\\»/I The most complete and best illustrated Bantam book published. Mr. T. F. McGrew, judge and breeder, 
DMIllrtll rv>WL tells how to house, feed and grow Bantams, how to select and fit the best for the shows, fi(\r 

^~"~~~~^~^"~~~ how to treat their diseases. Second Edition, 72 pages, 74 illustrations OVFI.. 

Dni lADI n r>AI II TD'V DCMCIMCC Points out th ■ causes, describes the symptoms so that every one can understand 
KCLIADLC rUUL I K 1 KCI iCulUJ them, and gives simple and tested remedies tor roup, colds, cholera, gapes, crop- 
—^—^—^^^-^^————^^^—^— bound, scaly-legs, bumble foot and another diseases. TeUs how Olr 

to care for poultry to prevent disease. Fifth Edition, 84 pages (5 by 6 inches) ,63c. 

These books are sold on approval. They are 9 by 12 inches in size, with the exception of Reliable Poultry Rememes. If 
they are not satisfactory, they can be immediately returned i:- good order and the purchase money will be promptly refunded 
The above prices include payment of postage to any address in the United States or Canada. 

Reliatk Poultry Journal Publishing Company, Quincy, Illinois, U.S.A. 



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